The Road Haulage Association (RHA) has renewed its call for deployment of the French military to protect HGV drivers. RHA chief executive Richard Burnett visited Calais last week, and expressed his concern that current security measures are insufficient to guarantee the safety of drivers making their way into the UK.
After carrying aero engines and airfreight over 400,000 kilometres across Europe on a set of Semperit M470 truck tyres, County Kildare-based haulier, GK Kelly Transport Limited speaks highly about the value and during extreme winter conditions the tyres offer. With a fleet of 11 trucks, owner, Gary Kelly, completed the 400,000 kilometre himself in just […]
With less than three weeks to go, the 2014 CV Show and Workshop is sold out. Show organisers report that every available portion of Show space has been sold and the books are now closed. The 2014 Show exhibit space will measure just over 31,400m2 – an increase of almost 8 per cent over last year.
As of today, HGVs of 12 tonnes and more will pay a charge to use UK roads. The introduction of the new HGV levy has been introduced a year ahead of schedule and is paired with a reduction in Vehicle Excise Duty. The Department for Transport says the VED reduction means that nine out of ten UK registered HGVs will pay no more under the new system than they did before 1 April 2014. Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin describes the implementation of a user-pays system that also covers foreign hauliers, who previously were not charged for road use in Britain, as a step that will “provide a massive boost for the UK haulage industry.”
Last year, Continental introduced the first tyres in its third generation commercial vehicle range. These initial products, the HA3 Conti Coach, Conti CityPlus and the Conti Urban, catered to passenger transport, and now the manufacturer has followed up with the launch of its first 3G tyre for the goods sector, the Continental EcoPlus HT3 trailer tyre.
Bridgestone has expanded its VSNT (V-Steel N-Traction) off-road tyre line-up with the introduction of a four-star rated version, the 35/65R33 VSNT 4*. The tyre has been specifically developed for underground haulage operations by today’s heavier shuttle trucks. The four-star rating enables the tyre to better accommodate the higher load capacity per air volume required by smaller tyre sizes used due to the constraints of tunnel dimensions.
A group of leading trade associations from the UK and Ireland have written to the European Parliament’s Transport Committee asking it not to damage highly efficient trade flows between the two countries by imposing unnecessary and unwelcome height restrictions on goods vehicles. The letter, alerting the Committee to the real threat posed to trade by a report which was presented to it today (5 November), received strong support from key members of the Transport Committee and from the European Commission.
Continental is expanding its range of trailer tyres to include an increased load index option specifically designed for regional delivery applications. Thanks to its 5 tonne load capacity, the HTR 2 XL 385/65 R 22.5 with load index 164 is suitable for vehicles with a curb weight (without trailer) of up to 25 tonnes, including the city semitrailers used for making deliveries throughout Europe.
Liverpool’s Kirkby Tyres continues to promote Double Coin truck and bus radial tyres, having been sole UK and Ireland importer for more than 20 years. This year the wholesaler made the Chinese manufactured brand the focal point of its presence at the Birmingham NEC’s Commercial Vehicles Show, and Kirkby is convinced that it was “an overwhelming success” for Double Coin.
At a time when the UK economy is at last seeing positive signs of recovery, we are now at risk of being faced with high fuel prices as a result of the current tension in the Middle East, says the Road haulage Association. Commentators have observed that despite the fact Syria is not an oil producer, there is a strong possibility that the Brent price of oil may go as high as $150 per barrel.
The Road Haulage Association is disappointed at the refusal by the Office of Fair Trading to consider an investigation into the issue of UK oil pricing. Such was the strength of feeling over high fuel prices that over 32,000 signatories, including FFUK supporters, members of the public and members of Parliament, added their names to the petition that was handed in to the offices of the OFT on Monday, 15 July.
Kirkby Tyres has hailed the recent appearance of its Double Coin exclusive brand at the CV Show in Birmingham as “an overwhelming success”. According to the company, Kirkby Tyres has been the UK and Irish sole importer of Double Coin for more than 20 years was said to have been pleased to participate in the 2013 CV Show.
The Road Haulage Association delighted to learn that a formal investigation into the issue of oil price fixing is finally under way. Commenting, RHA Chief Executive Geoff Dunning: "Since the original fuel protests way back in 2000, we have been of the opinion that there should be far more transparency among the oil companies. Yet every time we raised the issue our concerns were dismissed out of hand.
The Road Haulage Association is disappointed at the news that staunch FairFuelUK supporter Robert Halfon MP's attempt to pass a Private Members Bill to achieve fuel tax transparency by printing the tax take on fuel forecourt receipts didn't achieve a second reading and is now just another item in the history books.
The Road Haulage Association welcomes the news that Transport Minister Patrick McLoughlin is considering increasing the fine for dangerous driving offences, including texting or making a phone while behind the wheel, by 50 per cent.
This means that the fixed penalty for using a handheld device while driving would go up from £60 to £90, while other offences like running a red light, driving without a seatbelt and speeding will also fetch a higher charge.