fleet transport june 2013

IRELAND'S LEADING COMMERCIAL VEHICLE MAGAZINEInside!

JUNE 13

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FIRST DRIVE: Mercedes-Benz Arocs • PROFILE: Green Tiger Express

NEWSLETTER: Fleet Maritime & FPS (Federation Petroleum Suppliers)

MOTORSPORT: FIA European Truck Racing Championship 2013, Misano

INTERVIEW: Alessandro Mortali (IVECO) SAFETY: Driver Fatique

- Evolution of the species continues...- Evolution of the species continues...

New Scania Streamline

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www.fl eet.ie | 3

TimoCom adds tracking function to TC eMapAt the end of last year the provider of the market-leading European freight and vehicle exchange TC Truck&Cargo launched Europe's largest warehousing exchange. This June TimoCom will release the next innovation: the company has fully overhauled its route planning and calculation module TC eMap and added a tracking function to it.Thanks to this new option TimoCom's customers can soon track both their own

and other vehicles at the same time. Tedious and time-consuming follow-up calls are also a thing of the past.In addition to the new tracking system, the cost calculation and route planning options will still be included. Those who want to be effi cient, save time and costs in the transport and logistics industry, do not need anything else but to contact TimoCom at www.timocom.co.uk.

4 News• Investments in cab design to increase • Tachographs to get Smarter • DHL gets accredited • Driver CPC for mechanics? • Irish team competes in Volvo Vista • Wheels Couriers go electric! • New Volvo FL & FEs • Hi-Power & Mouvex

8 InterviewWith Alessandro Mortali, Iveco

10 CoverScania Streamline – generation next driven!

12 New FleetNewly registered Volvo, Mercedes-Benz, DAF & Renaults

14 TestFirst Drive: Mercedes-Benz Arocs on location

16 Fleeting ShotsInfo from Great Wall, OX and Book Review

18 ReportCV Show, Birmingham, Part III

20 VisitRoad Spirit Group Belgium comes to Dublin

22 SafetyDriver Fatigue explained in detail

24 Logistics e-Commerce and the implications

25 MaritimeShipping & Freight Newsletter featuring Multimodal 2013 review

30 TrailerFeaturing TrailerTail and Faymonville trailers

31 Fuel Prices & Safety MattersThe business case for Fleet Safety

32 MilestoneThermo King marks 75 years of innovation

34 LCVMajor revamp for Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

37 AwardsGet your entries in for the Fleet Transport Awards

40 MotorsportFirst rounds of the 2013 EU Truck Racing Championship

42 Profi leGreen Tiger Express

44 LegalDefensive Administration

45 FinanceStrategic Planning & Marketing

46 CommentIreland & the EU Presidency

47 OpinionYoung Driver Initiative

48 FPS NewsletterFPS gets new President & successful FPS Expo 2013

49 WarehousingIrish entry in Operator Finals & UKWA/AIWA teams up with Transaid

50 SoapboxRoad Haulage industry’s 5-Point Plan

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Disclaimer: Fleet Transport Magazine management can accept no responsibility for the accuracy of contributed articles or statements appearing in this magazine and any views or opinions expressed are not necessarily those of Fleet Transport management, save where otherwise indicated. No responsibility for loss or distress occasioned to any person acting or refraining from acting as a result of the material in this publication can be accepted by the authors, contributors, Editors or publishers.The Editor reserves the right to make publishing decisions on any advertisements or editorial article submitted to the magazine and to refuse publication or to edit any editorial material as seems appropriate to him. Professional legal advice should always be sought in relation to any specific matter.

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Contents June 13

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4 | NEWS 1

FLEETTRANSPORT | JUNE 13

Investments in R&D for cab design expected to increase

DHL Express Ireland awarded ‘Authorised Economic Operator’ (AEO) Certifi cation

For the past three decades HGV manufacturers in Western Europe have consistently introduced

improved driver comfort, convenience, safety, and entertainment features in trucks. As their truck cab styling strategies evolve, providing a personalised driving experience through advanced Human Machine Interfaces (HMIs), Driver Assistance Systems (DAS) and improved connectivity will gain prominence.

According to new analysis from Frost & Sullivan Strategic Assessment, of Truck Cab Styling Strategies of Major HGV OEMs in Western Europe, it fi nds that larger cabins, especially in the high-roof sleeper cab and low-entry day cab segments, off er huge growth potential. Lane departure warning, forward collision warning and tyre pressure monitoring systems will become

popular by 2015, while driver assistance systems such as reverse parking assistance and night vision will also gain traction.

“Increases in the average age of skilled drivers and general awareness on health necessitate driver-

friendly innovations in cabin styling,” said Frost & Sullivan Automotive and Transportation Senior Research Analyst Chandramowli Kailasam. “Th e proliferation of electronic devices in truck cabins too has heightened the need for leading European HGV OEMs to reduce driver distraction and enhance performance.”

The recruitment of inexperienced drivers to make up for the shortage of drivers will further escalate the dependency on advanced safety systems. Th erefore, the introduction of connectivity-driven safety technologies

such as vehicle-to-vehicle and critical event alert systems through telematics, along with improved ergonomics, is likely.

DHL Express Ireland has been awarded AEO (Authorised Economic Operator) Certifi cation from the Irish Revenue

Commissioners. AEO is a certifi ed standard issued by customs administrations in the EU. It certifi es that a business has met certain standards in relation to their security, management systems and compliance with customs rules. With this certifi cation, DHL Express Ireland is now offi cially recognised as a compliant operator within international trade. Paul Neenan, Assistant Principal, Large Cases Division, Offi ce of the Revenue Commissioners, presented the AEO Certificate to Bernard McCarthy, Managing Director, DHL Express Ireland, at an award ceremony in DHL’s Dublin head-offi ce. “We are absolutely delighted to have achieved AEO Certifi cation,” commented

McCarthy, “Customs and revenue compliance is a critical element of the Express delivery process and we take our responsibilities extremely seriously in this regard. AEO Certifi cation is also important for our customers as it provides the assurance that when they use the services of DHL Express in Ireland they can be confi dent that the service they receive will be fast and reliable but also customs and revenue compliant.“ Pictured (left to right): Bernard McCarthy, Managing Director, DHL Express Ireland, Paul Neenan, Assistant Principal, Large Cases Division, Offi ce of the Revenue Commissioners and Eddie Meaney, Customs and Gateway Manager, DHL Express Ireland.

Aft er lengthy discussions, the Parliament and the Council of the European Union fi nally reached an agreement on a

new regulation that will improve road safety for all and will guarantee the respect of professional drivers’ rights through the introduction of compulsory Smart tachographs. As featured in Fleet Transport last year, the new-generation devices will be installed in new trucks and buses/coaches doing cross-country travelling over more than 100 kilometres. “Th e aim of the new regulation is to verify that companies and drivers respect working and resting time. Th e functions of new tachographs allow for more precise data, which are telematically transferred to Authorities,” explained S&D Euro MP Silvia-Adriana Ţicău, who is the author of the Parliamentary Report.

“Th is will make roadside controls less relevant, it will facilitate the implementation of workers’ rights and therefore there will be no more social-dumping through extended driving hours. We have introduced the necessary guarantees for data protection and a smooth transitional period,” she added.

“Th e adoption of digital tachographs will increase safety for professional drivers and for all citizens using EU roads. “Authorities will be able to easily and rapidly identify those companies or drivers violating EU legislation or trying to cheat on the driving and resting time, or regarding the freight they transport,” stated El Khadraoui, S&D spokesperson on transport “On the other hand, the exemption for non-professional drivers and the minimum threshold of 100km for compulsory use of the digital tachograph will provide enough fl exibility to avoid any extra burden or bureaucracy.” All new trucks are to have a Smart tachograph by 2015. Th e agreement must now be approved both by the Council of the EU and by the plenary of the European Parliament.

Smart Tachographs will soon guarantee professional drivers’ rights

NEWS II | 5

www.fl eet.ie

Driver CPC required for Mechanics?

Wheels Couriers go Electric Vanning!

Concern has been expressed at the recent advice issued by the UK’s Department for

Transport (Df T) regarding garage technicians and mechanics driving heavy goods vehicles to statutory annual tests being considered in-scope of the Driver CPC Directive (2003/59/EC). Th is issue had raised a fl ag here and according to the Road Safety Authority the current exemption in Ireland is under review.

Th e Freight Transport Association (FTA) and Road Haulage Association (RHA) have joined forces to raise the point that while they were aware that a few companies have taken the decision to include these employees in their DCPC training programmes, they believe that the vast majority have not. Th ey added that for all of them to achieve full compliance for their staff in just over one year would be a massive task and cost for the industry, and one that they believe will deliver relatively litt le benefi t to the freight industry.

In representing their members on this subject,

both Associations reinforced their concerns, saying that they feel that the Directive was never intended to include such activity, and referred to the title of the Directive 2003/59/EC and the frequent references within the recital which refer to “the profession of driver”.

Th e Road Safety Authority, which oversees the Driver CPC legislation here said, in response to our query, “Regarding the defi nition of a professional driver, it is someone who drives for a living. In that context we have never required

garage technicians or mechanics to undergo compulsory CPC training unless they choose to do so. However, the eff ectiveness of Driver CPC is constantly being examined and any exemptions along with other aspects of the scheme are subject to review.”

Th eo de Pencier, FTA Chief Executive said on the issue: “FTA feels strongly that the recent advice represents an unreasonable reading of the Directive which we believe will put undue burden on our members and all businesses within the logistics sector.

Geoff Dunning, R H A Chief Executive added: “RHA doesn’t think that the Directive was ever intended to include the same restrictions on technicians and mechanics carrying out these activities, and the frequent reference to “the profession of driver” in the recital confi rms to us that technicians, who are neither professional drivers nor engaged in the carriage of goods, were not who the Commission had in mind when developing these requirements.”

VISTA, the world ’s largest competition for aftermarket personnel att racts entries from

thousands of Volvo Truck’s employees who compete in several challenging rounds of theoretical and practical challenges. On 17 April, the seventh VISTA semi-fi nal held in Madrid hosted ten teams from the UK and Ireland.

Irish Commercials, Volvo Trucks Dealer in Naas, had ‘Th e Lilly Whites’ compete. Consisting of Arek Rohaczynski, Paul Murphy, Noel Kelly and Eric Giblin, they were the only team from Ireland to successfully qualify for this stage of this prestigious competition. Each team member agreed that it off ered them a great insight into each other’s fi eld of expertise (parts, technical or admin) and on a personal level they all benefi ted from the training incorporated in

the process.

“As a competition, VISTA encourages optimal cohesion between the aft ermarket departments - parts, technical and administration, and in doing so aims to further improve communication, progress and effi ciency all of which benefi t our customers, our team and our company.

Th is mirrors the work practices of Irish Commercials in our depots in Naas and Galway. We are delighted with the success of the team and what they have achieved in this competition. It is a real testament to their individual abilities and also a refl ection of the calibre of people we have working in the company,” commented Arthur Walshe, Service Manager at Irish Commercials.

Originally starting with more than 17,000 people in 4,471 teams from

93 countries, the VISTA 2012-2013 World Final will be held on 25 June at the Volvo Trucks Global Training Centre in Gothenburg, Sweden. Representing the UK in the Final are ‘MC Hammers’ from MC Truck & Bus of West Th urrock.

Dublin based Wheels Couriers is currently participating in an EU funded project to assess

the viability of light commercial electric vehicles in a city centre location by trialling a 100% electric Renault Kangoo van in Dublin city and county. ESB installed a charging point and smart metre at Wheel Couriers headquarters and the data collected will enable an assessment of the savings to be made in the running and maintenance costs in comparison to their internal combustion engine vehicle counterparts.

Th e trial is being conducted in conjunction with the Department of Transport Engineering at Dublin Institute of Technology, which is

responsible for the implementation and management of the pilot project focusing on Dublin City Centre in particular. Th is pilot trial is part of a European Union “INTERREG IV-B” funded project called “ENEVATE”. Th e aim of the ENEVATE project is to rapidly boost innovation and competitiveness of the expanding electric vehicle sector in North West Europe and contribute to the environmental challenge of reducing European CO2 emissions. Pictured are Bernie Kinsella, Managing Director, Wheels Couriers and Dermot McArdle, Manager, ESB ecars with a 100% electric van provided by Renault as part of a European funded trial.

Irish Commercials Team competes in VISTA competition


6 | NEWS 111

Hi-Power offers Lightweight Bulk Discharge Compressors through Mouvex

“Customers in this segment don’t just buy a truck, they purchase trouble-free access to an effi cient

transport solution. Th e new Volvo FL and FE make it even easier for us to provide them with a comprehensive service that literally drives their business to greater success,” said Claes Nilsson, President of Volvo Trucks at the launch of the Swedish brand’s new series of light to medium duty trucks in Gothenberg.

“Th e new Volvo FL and Volvo FE trucks are now even easier to drive in city conditions where the demand is for fast, smooth and clean transport. Th e new trucks feature an enhanced driver environment and the Volvo FL range is now extended with a very competitive four-cylinder, 5-litre engine. Drivers oft en climb into and out of their trucks many times on each shift . Th at’s why we’ve focused on creating a comfortable, convenient driver’s environment with good visibility in every direction,” added Claes.

Th e driver’s working conditions have improved thanks to clearer instrumentation and new ergonomic seats featuring an integrated headrest and safety belt. A reinforced seat and seat anchoring

in the fl oor help improve safety in the event of an accident.

New enginesDriving becomes more effi cient thanks to two new, in-house designed 5 and 8 litre engines:

The new 6-cylinder D8 engine has a • displacement of 7.7 litres and is available with a choice of three power outputs: 320 hp (1200 Nm), 280 hp (1050 Nm) and 250 hp (950 Nm).The Volvo FL is also available with the • compact 4-cylinder D5 engine. It has a displacement of 5.1 litres and comes with power outputs of 240 hp (900 Nm) and 210 hp (800 Nm).

A comprehensive range of transmissions compliments the two new engines. Among the various options, it is now possible to equip the Volvo FE with the highly renowned I-Shift automated gearbox. Another welcome new feature for drivers is that ESP (Electronic Stability Program) is now fi tt ed as standard to both the Volvo FL and the Volvo FE. ESP helps the driver keep the truck on the road if it swerves unexpectedly or severely.

Volvo Trucks has also designed a new 12-tonne version of the Volvo FL. With the most powerful engine in its segment (four-cylinder D5 with 240 hp), redesigned I-Sync transmission it weighs 500 kgs less than a corresponding truck with a 6-cylinder engine.

In line with the recently launched FH & FM series, the Volvo FL and FE continues the new look family theme with the classic Volvo ironmark logo moved up to a new position below the windscreen. Th e dark section under the windscreen gives the cab a lower appearance, helping to create a modern look that blends in well with the traffi c environment.

The redesigned headlamps and distinctive daytime running lights now emphasise the design relationship with the other new Volvo truck models. Th e lamps are integrated into the new bumper, which is a three-piece unit with corner sections made of steel for extra durability and inexpensive repairs in the event of minor bumps and scrapes.

Hi-Power, one of Ireland’s leading component and services providers to the transport industry has recently introduced a new

innovative range of Mouvex Lightweight Bulk Discharge Compressors for fast and effi cient discharge of both liquids and powders. According to a company spokesperson, these new machines

offer a number of advantages over the old technology. “The New Mouvex Cast Iron Screw Compressor range, the B200 Liquid Discharge and MH6 Dry Bulk Discharge System are high tech, high performance, effi cient, fast discharge, lightweight and much easier, safer, faster to install when compared with some of the old technology cumbersome heavy machines used before.”

Mouvex is a global supplier of oil-free compressors for dry bulk transport tankers or liquids unloading and its new MH6 is the world’s fi rst combination screw compressor/power take-off unit for the dry bulk transport market. Th erefore, a broad range of applications can be catered for as numerous size options and accessories are available. A modular system (cooled and non-cooled) has been developed, fi tt ed with common accessories for PTO direct drive systems that can be mounted inside the truck frame regardless of the compressor type. Th ese screw compressor packages can be easily installed into all truck manufacturer’s chassis. Compared to existing standard gear, up to 70% weight reduction has been achieved with the MH6, which is also Euro 6 legislation complaint.

Volvo Trucks revamp FL & FE model ranges

New Volvo FL New Volvo FE

Volvo Trucks. Driving Progress

52221

Envy

A recent TruckNet UK survey revealed Volvo Trucks to be the most desired truck to drive.

To find out more about the new Volvo Truck range contact your local dealer

The most desirable truck*

*Source: TruckNetUK.com preference poll 2013.

www.facebook.com/volvotrucksuk

www.twitter.com/volvotrucksuk

www.volvotrucks.co.uk

FLEETTRANSPORT | JUNE 13 Text: Jarlath Sweeney - editor@fl eet.ie

8 | INTERVIEW

JS. From your presentation here in Bauma 2013, the Fiat Industrial family that is primarily Iveco, Case New Holland and FPT (Fiat Powertrain Technologies) is very strong.

A M. Yes, what we have here is a very big organization that all brands together will have earnings of €26 billion and are now in a position to compete with Caterpillar, John Deere etc. Specifi c to the construction sector in relation to the on-road applications we have the Iveco Trakker and the heavy duty Astra range, which is marketed in selected countries. And our engine technology through FPT will see synergies across the brands, which will benefi t all.

JS. Just looking at the structure of the company at the moment and with Iveco integrating into Fiat Industrial there has been a lot of changes at the top with management coming and going. Is this sett led now with Mr. Sistino as the new head of the brand?

AM. You know the merger happened around 4 months ago so I think that maybe it is a working process and to be honest I am not in a position to say what is the stage we reached so far. I think what is good in our company is that we have a lot of people in the business-to-business end now from trucks, construction, infrastructure etc., so that brings value and of course it is something that the customer can see. Also the world is changing and the truck manufacturing business is becoming more and more competitive so I think that the dynamic of the industry is gradually changing. So you have to move along with it, you have to evolve in your company as well. It is going to take another while before that is fully stable. For Iveco this merge has been very positive because it brought the company into another level. So today we are very strong all over the world, we have decentralized heavily, to get all information across the products across the regions across the companies, the brands and so on. So I believe this is the natural step to grow the company globally.

JS. Th e European market is continuing to decline and your market share is dropping, where do you see growth potential?

AM. I have to say we are doing very well in Africa where we still see the market is stable even if they are suff ering a litt le but still they are strong. Russia is delivering very good volumes, and Latin America is still going well where we have Trakker and we are working on Astra strategy there. At this moment while Europe is suff ering we have good opportunity to increase

the business in China, in Australia and Indonesia because those markets are doing well. Th ey want tough products for heavy construction, tough roads, and Astra is doing the job.

JS. What about India you had a collaboration at one time, where is it now?

AM. We are still there and working to have a new strategy in place as with India, Case New Holland has tractor factories, so I believe that today is too early because the merger is happening right now. But having such important factories within the organization is easier than to start a new brand development from new, so I believe that we have good opportunity there as well.

JS. How long will that take?

AM. I can’t tell you, 3 months, 6 months, it's complex because with India it's hard to say, it is a most diffi cult country. It’s probably more diffi cult than in China because they want the products, they want technology and it will get there, but in India they say okay, but I’m happy with what I have – so at this point its basic system is cheaper. It’s a diff erent culture really.

JS. So we know the new ITOY award winning Stralis, and you launched the new Trakker here in Munich. What about your Eurocargo?

AM. It will come in time!

JS. When? By the end of the year with new Euro 6 engines?

AM.Maybe, could be a surprise!

JS. So that’s a yes then?

AM. No, it’s a maybe! I will never tell you it is, but I will never tell you it is not. Probably we will need to do some improvement yes, and maybe we are already thinking about it. We will see, yes, but it is a good point.

JS. But the market is changing fr om the traditional 7 and a half tonnes to heavier types like what is

happening in the UK – 12 tonnes and then 18 to 26 where the Eurocargo fi nishes.

AM. We have a very interesting product what we call the ‘Supercargo’ that goes up to 60 tonnes. It is a Eurocargo heavy with a 2.3 metre cab with an FPT 6.7 litre engine that goes up to 320hp – this is a cheaper powerful interesting vehicle. Of course if you don’t want to spend so much on fuel in the vehicle and you accept the litt le bit narrow cab etc., it is a perfect vehicle.

JS. When will the Tector Euro 6 engines be launched, before the end of the year? Will they be SCR only too?

AM. Yes.

JS. You must be encouraged with your lead on SCR only because Scania is now doing the same thing with some of their Euro 6s?

AM. Yes it is, but we are convinced by our engineering. Tests are proving at the moment that we are more or less at the same level versus the competition. Even if in our case the AdBlue consumption that we measure doesn’t take into account with our competitors the active regeneration phase that is required every 15 or 20,000 km, which for half an hour they burn gas to get rid of the built up particulates in the system, but we don’t. But I have to tell you today we are outstandingly happy because on the 4x2 Stralis tractor, the weight we are gett ing is 400 kilos less than our best competitors. Th at is outstanding and we have lower level of noise in the cabin and we have the same fuel consumption and we didn’t spend billions in the development. We spent a signifi cant amount of money but still let me say it is reasonable. So we have really what the customer needs, we have improved the quality of the vehicles and we have still a competitive price. So this Stralis is really a very nice machine and I think it will bring us satisfaction, of course the market is what it is but I think it is going to be really successful and probably our market sharing will lead to the double-digit area.

Read the Interview in full on www.fl eet.ie

One-to-Onewith Alessandro Mortali,Senior Vice PresidentHeavy Range at Ivecowith Jarlath Sweeney,editor@fl eet.ie

The New Actros.Truck of the year 2012

www.mercedes-benz.ie

Motor Distributors Ltd, Naas Road, Dublin 12. Tel:- (01) 4094 444

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The New Actros.Irish Truck of the Year 2013But your trust is still the most important award of all.

Brimming with innovation and emotion. Aiming for the very top interms of comfort, driving dynamics and economy. Boastingoutstanding material and build quality as well as the lowest overallcosts. A truck which has been developed uncompromisingly underthe “Trucks you can trust” premise. Among other things thismeans that the new Actros has undergone 2600 hours of ne-tuning in the wind tunnel, 50 million kilometres of engine testingon test rigs and in real-life operation, and 20 million kilometres onthe road.

In the same week that the offi cial ABBA Museum was opened in Stockholm, another iconic Swedish name from the past att racted its fair share of the

media spotlight. Journalists from all over Europe were keen to record the re-emergence of the Scania Streamline, the re-incarnation of a successful concept from 1991. Just as the original Streamline was based on a restyled Scania 3-series, its new version of the existing

G&R series cab gets the minute att ention to airfl ow and aerodynamics. In addition, the second generation of the Scania’s Euro 6 drivetrain has been installed as well as driver enhancement packages. Collectively, these developments bring potential fuel savings in long-haulage operations of up to 8%.

With a revised Opticruise transmission and the installation of Scania’s Active Prediction System,

the new look G&R series Scania Streamlines also feature new low-drag frontal design enhanced by new full air defl ector kits. At the back-offi ce end, new services interact with the workshop to boost uptime, through the remote downloading of diagnostic data. According to Per-Erik Nordström, Product Aff airs Manager at Scania, the Streamline trendsett ing heritage continues with the new version. He described the development as taking “a close look at the heart and lungs of the truck,” and said the test trials undertaken over the past two years have realised the objectives in reducing fuel consumption. Per-Erik listed where the actual fuel goes – drag, rolling resistance, powertrain and waste, all in varying proportions. He mentioned the importance of having the right tyre pressures for the load and conditions, as well as confi gurating the right rear axle ratios for the job in hand.

Details on the improvements made to the headlight units, seats, radio with navigation together with a new air suspension control system were then given. More time was directed towards the changes to the Opticruise automated transmission, which now features an Economy mode plus the Active Prediction System on the cruise control. Up to three performance modes (from 4) can be specifi ed with Opticruise - Standard, Economy, Power or Off -Road – and all are operational by the integrated lever to the right of the steering wheel (which also controls the Scania Retarder.)

Th e Scania Active Prediction is a predictive cruise control system that uses GPS and topographical map data to fi nely regulate the cruising speed. Scania customers now have a choice of 9 Euro 6 outputs, ranging from the 250 hp 9-litre unit to the 580 hp V8. Th e performance of the new 580 hp Euro 6/V8 is similar to that of the Euro 5 620 hp thanks to its wider torque peak and broad power curve. Common-rail fuel injection (Scania XPI), variable-geometry turbocharger (VGT), and a water cooled EGR system are all fi tt ed to the new block. Additional capacity in the AdBlue tanks have been added by means of larger tanks (one of which is hidden). Scania’s Driver Training also plays a signifi cant role. Th is innovative real-time system continuously helps the driver to maintain driving skills.

So in a nutshell, Scania’s Streamline through Opticruise, Retarder, Active Prediction and other vehicle systems plus the latest Euro 6 powertrains means a safe and economical driving style can be assured.


10 | COVER

Scania Streamline – Trendsetter once again!

SCANIA G450

COVER | 11

Text & Photos: Jarlath Sweeney - editor@fl eet.ie www.fl eet.ie

First Drives

Fift een minutes from the city of Sodertalje, lies Scania’s vast Demo Centre. Nestled among the trees waited a selection of gleaming new Euro 6 powered Streamline tractor-units, ready to test drive along three designated routes. During the briefi ng from Per-Erik Nordström, we were informed that a full record of our driving performance would be charted and revealed to us prior to departure. No pressure then!

A familiarisation run was done fi rst in the new 410 hp version which interestingly achieves its Euro 6 emission control regulation by SCR only (with the help of DPF) but without EGR (as per the majority of Euro 6 engines). With the exception of Iveco, Scania is the fi rst manufacturer to take this route. As expected there was no noticeable diff erence in the way the engine performed in the R410 but what was conspicuous by its absence was the engine noise itself, so smooth was the drivetrain. From the driver’s seat, a comfortable trip was ensured, with the ventilation system used to good eff ect on this bright sunny late Spring day. Th e Scania 12+2 Opticruise range-splitt er worked effi ciently as did the integrated Retarder.

Next, the real test, Tommi, one of Scania’s Driver Coaches was alongside in the G450 4x2 to guide us along the mountainey route, which passed through a former Military base that has recently been privatized. Storage units located there are now used by some of the big names in logistics such as DHL. Many of the 60 tonne 25.25m EuroCombi’s frequent this road on a regular basis, drawing felled timber and crushed stone sourced around the area.

Tommi advised on when to apply and more importantly when not to apply the accelerator on the many ascents and descents encountered.

Over the 30 kilometre run, an average speed of 46.7 kp/h was turned into 38.24 l/100 kms in fuel consumption to score an average 86% in overall driver performance. Th at was the second best result of the day, ahead of the accompanying group from Eastern European countries. To complete the data downloaded from the truck remotely and emailed to each journalist, use of the accelerator on the hill climbs was 84%, brake usage 83% with 92% marked for anticipation. Th e 450 hp unit which was a litt le noisier but brought a bett er sense of available power on tap and was bett er balanced for the 40 tonne load and the varied terrain. Th ese are typical conditions for Irish hauliers, who will fi nd this powertrain very adaptable to their requirements.

Th e day rounded off nicely with a quick run in the R580 V8. It was great to hear that the renowned throaty roar of the V8 remains and is in no way stifl ed by the requirements of Euro 6. Th e 6x2 tractor took to the selection of hills along the Demo Centre circuit with plenty to spare, and the handling of same never came into question around the twisty sections of the track. Again, the automated transmission mated with the new 16 litre engine, the only V8 in Euro 6 form to date.

Driver Development

'From Experience to Excellence', is how Scania themes its Driver Development Programme. Th e interactive system off ers more than 10%

improvement in reducing fuel consumption, plus less wear and tear on the vehicle and lower insurance costs. Th rough active and personal coaching, together with information gathered from the vehicle’s telematics unit, individual analysis is ongoing as the driver is contacted by the coach regularly to encourage and ensure that he/she maintain their good skills and prevent lapsing into their old ways.

Spec Check – Scania Streamline Euro 6Model R410 LA 4x2 G450 LA 4x2 R 580 V8 LA 6x2Engine 13 litre SCR only 13 litre EGR/SCR 16 litre EGR/SCRPower 410 hp @ 1,900 rpm 450 hp @ 1,900 rpm 580 hp @ 1,900 rpmTorque 2,150 Nm @

1,000–1,300 rpm 2,350 Nm @ 1,000–1,300 rpm

2,950 Nm @ 1,000–1,350 rpm

Transmission 2 pedal Opticruise 12 speed +2

12 speed 2 pedal Opticruise

12 + 2 speed 2 pedal Opticruise

Suspension Front: Springs Rear: Air

Front: Springs Rear: Air

Front: Springs Rear: Air

Brakes EBS/Discs EBS/Discs EBS/DiscsPayload 40 tonnes 40 tonnes 40 tonnesTyres Michelin Savergreen

315/70 R22.5 XF/XDMichelin Savergreen 315/80 R22.5 XF 315/70 R22.5 XD

Michelin 385/55 R22.5 315/70 R22.5

Scania Streamline heritage renewed

In the truck world, the Scania Streamline remains an icon. Remarkably aft er over 20 years since launch (to coincide with Scania’s centenary in 1991), there are still high numbers of fresh-looking R113 and R143 Streamlines in operation on the roads of Europe. Using the cab from the 3 series introduced a few years previous, its restyling focused on reducing wind resistance with the drag factor reduced by 12-15%. Modifi cations were made to the airfl ow, through new bumper design, new light clusters, grille and side panels. As a result fuel consumption was cut by 4/5%. “Streamline became a trendsett er and rapidly acquired cult status among truck fans all over Europe,” stated Per-Erik Nordström, Product Aff airs Manager. “Th e launch of the Streamline in 1991 started a trend towards more aerodynamic heavy trucks,” he added. He went on to say that the Scania “Centurion” which it was aff ectionately known as showcased a number of signifi cant technical innovations such as Euro 1 engines, turbocompounding, new transmissions and Retarder in 1993.

Per-Erik who retires aft er over four decades of service to Scania was the key instigator in the return of the Streamline concept to the current G&R series in Euro 6 form.

R410 & R580 V8

Fresh from a successful exhibit at the CV Show in Birmingham, Fitzgeralds Vehicle Body Builders, Cullen, Mallow, County Cork has just delivered the fi rst four new curtainside bodies for

these new DAF LF Series supplied to Caulfi ed Transport Ltd (Cork) by DAF Truck Services, Cork. Another 15 new rigid bodies are on order for 2013 along with two double deck trailers which are currently in production and set for delivery this month.

In 2012, Caulfi eld Transport, which also has a large depot in Dublin, invested over €500,000 in its fl eet renewal programme.

Dennehy Motors, Limerick which recently opened an impressive new Renault Sales & Service Centre on the Dock Road has completed the handover of

9 new Renault Master LM35 3.5 tonne (125 hp) panel vans to Limerick Pharma Ltd. Pat Reeves, Fleet Sales Manager at Dennehy Motors conducted the deal.

Limerick Pharma Ltd, is a new co-operative established by former United Drug distribution drivers who are now undertaking deliveries on behalf of the company in the same effi cient manner across the Munster region.

12 | NEW FLEET


Caulfi eld Transport continues with Fitzgeralds

Roche Logistics reach out for new Mercedez-Benz ActrosPleased with his move to Volvo Trucks, is Ireland’s leading

International and award winning logistics transport provider to the music industry, Frank McGuinness, Managing Director

of McGuinness Forwarding (Dublin) who has just taken delivery of 10 Extra-Low-Height Volvo FH460 4x2 Globetrott er XL Tractor-Units with I-Shift auto transmission. Th ese trucks were bought with the specifi c task of “pulling” a pop star! In other words, transporting Pink’s “Th e Truth About Love” Tour on its European Leg.

Supplied by Irish Commercials, (Naas), the new FH’s Extra-Low Height cab was a requirement to overcome the height restrictions in place in certain countries. Given the distances covered and the loads carried, cab comfort and fuel effi ciency were paramount for Frank, in addition to the absolute necessity for the low height cabs.

“We are currently looking at Euro 6 engines and once we have decided what marque will best suit our ongoing operations we will be placing orders by the end of the year,” said Frank.

Pictured with Frank McGuinness shaking on the deal is Conor Horan, Sales Director, Irish Commercials.

Another former Fleet Transport Award winner Roche Logistics, Rosslare, County Wexford has invested in a brand new Mercedez-Benz Actros purchased from Somers Commercials Ltd.

Recently, the Roche Logistics Group obtained an ISO90001:2008 standard.

Pictured at the handover of the Actros 2545 6x2 tractor-unit, current Fleet Transport Irish Truck of the Year 2013 were, from left to right; Jimmy Nolan, Sales Manager, Somers Commercials Ltd.; Damian Roche, Managing Director, Roche Logistics Group; Mathew Davis, Driver, Roche Logistics Group and Pat Kenny, Sales Executive, Somers Commercials Ltd.

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F ollowing on from the Actros Construction range launched in 2009, the new Mercedes-Benz Arocs continues the programme of change

and development for the German giant. One, which the newly appointed Head of Truck & Bus at Daimler AG Stefan Buchner said; “Is a key component of the new product off ensive at Mercedes-Benz trucks.” Th is off ensive began with Actros, and has progressed across its commercial vehicle line-up, with Citan, Antos, Unimog, Econic, Sprinter, and now Arocs.

Arocs has a striking appearance, and the dynamic styling almost challenges you to an arm wrestle, just to prove how tough it is. It also typifi es the aggressive manner in which Mercedes-Benz is taking its offensive to the marketplace. Herr Buchner says, “In 2012 Mercedes-Benz trucks captured 23.0% of the European heavy-duty truck market, and 19.4% of European tractor sales.” Undoubtedly helped by the success of Actros which to date has achieved sales of over 19,000 units. Now, with Arocs leading the charge on the construction sector, Mercedes-Benz’s market share could increase further.

Somewhat surprising is the percentage of orders for Euro 6 models. In 2013 almost 50% of all orders for Actros and Antos are powered by the BlueTec 6 engines, with that number rising to almost 75% within Germany. Th is spread of Euro 6 is set to increase, and Arocs will contribute as it will only be available with Euro 6 compliant units.

Th e decision by Mercedes-Benz to move to a more modular vehicle design process is becoming more evident. Th e thinking behind this move was to give the customer greater choice while providing cost savings for the company. Arocs clearly demonstrates how this idea has worked for Daimler on the production side. Many of the components both external and internal can be found on the Antos and

Actros models. Nevertheless the modular method provides operators with a wider ‘a-la-carte menu’ to specify their vehicles exactly as they desire.

Th anks to the modular design, inside the Arocs is quite familiar as it shares many components with other family members including Actros, though Mercedes-Benz have managed to upgrade the construction vehicle range rather than downgrading the fl agship models.

Th e company has divided the Arocs range into three areas of work - construction site, construction supply and concrete deliveries. Th ey believe these three areas of operation account for 45%, 30% and 15% of vehicle usage respectively, with the remaining 10% comprising of special purpose units.

A choice of fourteen cab variations can rest on top of four engine options from 7.7 to 15.6 litres. All drive through the standard 12-speed Mercedes PowerShift 3 transmission, to move axle confi gurations from the regular 4x2 to the mighty all terrain 8x8. Th ree manual transmissions are available though as an optional extra. In addition, there are three options for all-wheel drive, full time permanent, selectable, or a new hydraulic auxiliary drive. Diff erential and inter-axle locks can be selected using a simplifi ed rotary switch.

Th is rotary switch is one of the many standard features across the Arocs construction range, which includes Hill Holder, and the interesting Crawl Function. Crawl Function allows the driver to engage second gear, bring the accelerator pedal to 1,000 rpm, and then release the pedal. Aft er which Arocs will steadily move forward under its own power with no action necessary from the driver.

Th e function has a number of benefi ts for the driver, examples would include feeding road pavers and slow movements in heavy traffi c. In addition to

the Crawl function, Arocs is the fi rst truck with an automated transmission to come with rocking mode. Th e driver simply uses an on-off action on the thrott le pedal to rock the truck back and forward to get out of the mire.

For any automated manual transmission, off -road is a more complex task as conditions can change from one metre to the next, and can diff er vastly across axles, and longitudinally. Operating PowerShift 3 in off -road mode we found to be quick and precise with minimal power interruption. To test this we ran at one incline in off -road auto mode, and the Arocs cleared the hill without diffi culty. We decided to have another go in 3rd gear manual to stall the truck near the top and see what would happen. As the Arocs was about to stall, the transmission dropped instantly to 1st and continued with no perceptible loss of drive. Th e selection of ratios is optimised by the fi tt ing of tilt sensors, which gauge the incline and select the correct ratio related to weight, speed, and gradient.

Taking the 8x8/4 around the extreme driving section of the course was, as one would expect, an experience. For this run we opted for the 4151 with a 16-speed manual transmission, and what a surprise it was. On the extreme section we found the manual box exceptionally light to use and very fl exible. Th e ratios were well matched to the OM471, with the splitt er engaging quickly and allowing good forward progress over all types of terrain.

Driving the extreme course was where we fi rst discovered the benefi ts of the new electro-hydraulic Servotwin steering system. Servotwin uses an electric motor to lighten the steering at low speeds and is particularly suited to twin-steer eight-wheelers. Its advantages were highlighted tackling the off -road segments, by lightening the eff ort needed when tracking through rutt ed and muddy sections of the quarry, and it was especially useful navigating the 8x8 around some hairpin turns.


14 | TEST

Mercedes-Benz – ‘Driving Arocs – in a hard place’

Servotwin also comes into its own, when reversing and manoeuvring on normal surfaces.

Ascending a 400 metre stretch of loose stone with a 40% gradient, the OM471 - 510 hp engine could lug down below 900 rpm, though once we kept the engine speed between 900 and 1,100 rpm, initial concerns about managing the climb disappeared. Coming down the far side Arocs was easily controlled by applying the high performance engine brake, which delivers 400 kW (544hp) retardation.

On the highway our option was a 2645 6x4 pulling a Meiller-Kipper tandem axle trailer. Th is typically Germanic combination was a pleasure to drive and easy to handle around the small national roads, with the trailer following perfectly behind to the point of hardly being noticed.

Considering the success to date of the BlueTec 6 series, Daimler is confi dent the engine range will bring a 5% fuel saving to operators. However, where the construction sector diff ers from the on-road sector, is that the fi gures can be extremely diffi cult to quantify. On paper there is no doubt the fi gures stand up, though in the fi eld (and quarry) where these trucks work, it is always diffi cult to replicate exact conditions, making it diffi cult to establish exact comparisons. Many of the fi gures are based on a comparison to the previous Actros Construction Range. Nevertheless for many long-haul operators BlueTec 6 has delivered signifi cant savings, and there is no reason to suggest the same will not apply for the construction sector.

As a dedicated transport unit for the construction sector, Arocs is a highly refi ned and well thought-out product which draws on the best features of Actros and Antos. Th ere appears to be a new enthusiasm, or reaffi rmation about the Daimler product range, and the company’s planned off ensive on the market. Th is reaffi rmed confi dence in their product arises from their belief that the vehicles are the best available, and allows Mercedes-Benz to make ‘boulder’ claims for their new - rock climbing Arocs.

TEST | 15

Text & Photos: Paul White - paul@fl eet.ie www.fl eet.ie

Mercedes-Benz Arocs Driven

Model 2645 4151 4142

Confi guration 6x4 with Trailer 8x8/4 8x4/4

Engine OM471 OM471 OM471

Displacement 12.8 Litre 12.8 Litre 12.8 Litre

Power 449 hp / 330 kW 510 hp / 375 kW 421 hp / 310 kW

Torque 2200 Nm@1,100rpm 2500 Nm@1,100rpm 2100 Nm@1,100rpm

Transmission MB 12 Speed PowerShift 3

MB G260-16 16 Speed Manual

MB 12 Speed PowerShift 3

Rear Axle Ratio 4.333:1 4.833:1 4.571:1

Engine Brake 400 kW (544 hp) @ 2300 rpm

400 kW (544 hp) @ 2300 rpm

400 kW (544 hp) @ 2300 rpm

Retarder Water Retarder Water Retarder ~

Brakes Discs All Round Drums All round Discs All Round

Safety Electro-pneumatic Braking (EPB) ABS & ASR

Electro-pneumatic Braking (EPB) ABS & ASR

Electro-pneumatic Braking (EPB) ABS & ASR

Steering Single Circuit Servotwin Servotwin

Suspension F R

Steel - 8t, leaf Steel -13t, leaf



Fuel/AdBlue Tank

290 / 60 Litres 330 / 25 Litres 290 / 25 litres

The 1970s were the best of times and the worst of times (to paraphrase the opening lines of the best selling Frank

McCourt novel Angela’s Ashes) for the British and European truck industries as depicted brilliantly by Colin Peck in his latest book in the ‘Th ose were the Days’ series published by Veloce.

Th e A-Z guide to over 60 truck brand present in that decade also highlights the fast changing Legislation led by the European Economic Community (EEC) established over 10 years earlier. Within the 96 pages, the reader can enjoy the synopsis of all the brands featured with photos of practically every one. It also outlines the state of aff airs in the British industry and how collectively they failed to meet the growing demand for higher horsepower and bigger payloads. What happened then was that their lack of progress allowed the innovative European

marques gain a foothold in Great Britain, one of Europe’s bigger markets.

While each truck brand covered will press on the memories of drivers, owners and enthusiasts alike of that time and even to today, for those of us who grew up within the industry, the book has special meaning. Such names as Bedford, BMC/Austin, Comer and Fiat became part of our family at one stage or other during that period and beyond.

Being familiar with all of the brands listed (with the exception of Shelvoke & Drewry and Unipower) it is indeed saddening to realise that all but one factory remains, that is in Leyland, which produces DAF Trucks. As some of the brands went out of business, others were subsumed by bigger companies. Th e same can be said for the rest of Europe whereby the Scandinavian, German, Dutch and Italians remain strong and now look beyond the 27 State EU for sales growth and return on their ongoing investments.

Good to see Fleet Transport mentioned in the credits by the author as some information and photos were used, notably the Dennison truck.

Another fi ne record by Colin Peck. Here’s to his next installment on Mercedes-Benz trucks. Jarlath Sweeney

Wit h 10% of t he world ’s population living in Africa, there has never been a vehicle

specifi cally designed and manufactured in volume to meet the rigours of the Continent. Th at situation is about to change with the development of the OX, a highly unconventional ‘fl at-pack’ all-terrain light truck that could benefi t people living in remote villages and townships across Africa and other parts of the developing world.

Designed and built in Britain, the OX is unlike any other vehicle and has no competitor – whether from a concept, performance or pricing point of view. It is the result of the Global Vehicle Trust’s (GVT*, www.

globalvehicletrust.com) ambition to help people in the developing world by providing cost-effective mobility for communities to undertake crucial daily tasks, such as collect drinking water and transporting grain, fertilizer or building materials.

Most panels are interchangeable from one side to the other, while the fewest possible components are used to give it a fast build-up time. It takes three people approximately 5.4 hours to create the fl at pack prior to shipping. It then takes three people 11.5 hours to assemble the vehicle from fl at pack at its destination and no special skills or equipment are required.


16 | FLEETING SHOTS

Great Wall Steed gets 6 year warranty

Deemed Ireland’s best value 4x4 Double-Cab Pick-Up truck, the Great

Wall Steed is currently the only vehicle of its kind to be off ered with a six year / 200,000 kilometre warranty. Th e extended six-year warranty from the Chinese brand comprises the 3 year/100,000 km manufacturer warranty plus a further 3 year/100,000 km powertrain extended warranty provided by Great Wall Ireland. Th is warranty off er is available on all Steeds purchased between now and 31 December 2013.

“Th e six-year warranty reaffi rms Great Wall’s commitment to off er

fantastic value and guaranteed quality, with confi dence, to Irish customers,” said Neville Matt hews, Managing Director at Great Wall Ireland. “Th e Steed represents outstanding value for money, with a low purchase price, generous equipment levels and excellent fuel economy for its class, while this extended warranty will further enhance the appeal of our vehicles.”

As well as the new six-year / 100,000 km. mechanical warranty, all Great Wall Steeds benefi t from a six-year anti-perforation warranty, three-year paint warranty and three-year roadside assistance.

‘Flat-Pack’ OX is like no other ATV!

British & European truck of the 1970sby Colin PeckISBN 978-1-845844-15-8

www.veloce.co.uk

Be the rst to test-drive the New R450 Streamline Euro6

IMPORTER IRELAND

Bookings: [email protected]: Mark on 071 96 34528Westward Scania

SCANIA STREAMLINE is back!SCANIA STREAMLINE is back!

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Rounding off our comprehensive review from the successful CV Show 2013 held once again at the NEC Birmingham, Jarlath Sweeney and

Cathal Doyle report from Halls 3A, 4 and 5.

AL-KO – www.al-ko.comWith a reputation second to none in the mobile lesiure industry for its high quality motorhome and caravan components, AL-KO’s lightweight and low height chassis range is also ideal for a wide range of commercial vehicle operators and applications.

BOTT – www.bott ltd.co.ukLaunching at the Birmingham show was Module, a DIY shelf and case system aimed at owner drivers and those on tight budgets. Designed primarily for small vans, it has frames that connect to existing mounting points and is easily transferable to other vehicles. Th e company also showed a racking system for the new Ford Transit Custom.

BRIDGESTONE TYRES – www.bridgestone.ieTh e latest addition to Bridgestone’s fuel-saving Ecopia range, the H-Trailer 001 took pride of place. Also garnering a lot of att ention were the new R-Steer 001 and R-Drive 001 regional truck tyres, and innovations including the company’s Tyre Pressure Monitoring System.

BRIGADE ELECTRONICS – www.brigade-electronics.comSmartEye is Brigade Electronics’ most intelligent camera monitor system yet. Powered by ASL 360, the sophisticated camera system provides the driver with a bird’s eye view of the vehicle for eff ortless monoeuvring.

CONTINENTAL TYRES – www.continental-tyres.ieShowing the recently launched bus tyre range, and the Conti EcoPlus HT3 trailer tyre, Continental also unveiled a new generation of van tyres, the ContiVanContact 100 and ContiVanContact 200. Th e 100 range is for rugged use, with the 200 aimed at minibuses and MPVs operating on bett er road surfaces.

DHOLLANDIA TAIL LIFTS - www.dhollandia.comDhollandia’s highlight at the CV Show was its new DH-VOCS column lift . Weighing just 185 kg, it merges the rear frame of the body and the tail lift into a single component, making it the lightest tail lift in the 3.5 - 7.5t GVW range.

GRA Y & ADAMS – www.gray-adams.comFounded over 55 years ago, Gray & Adams, which has a production facility in the North, exhibited its latest trailer and rigid bodywork designs including one for Chiltern Cold Storage on a Mercedes-Benz.

HATCHER COMPONENTS LTD – www.hatchercomp.co.ukOne of the most interesting and innovative displays was by Hatcher which had a selection of model trucks and trailers sporting the various aerodynamic kits that can be fi tt ed to vehicles to reduce drag and save fuel.

MANITOU – www.manitou.comManitou’s MI range of industrial forklift trucks is now available in the UK, and the French manufacturer displayed this MI 18 G example, part of a 12 model, Chinese-assembled family. Also on show was the TMT range of truck-mounted telescopic forklift s.

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18 | REPORT


MAXON – www.maxonlift .comUS tail lift manufacturer Maxon had four of its most popular products on display including the Max15C cantilever lift , the Max15T and Max10T Tuk-A-Way lift s, and the Max 10/15R from the company’s new Raillift series. Maxon is hoping to expand into the Irish market.

MIX TELEMATICS – www.mixtelematics.comTh e information and mobile assets management provider is investing heavily in the UK with a new Centre of Excellence in Swindon and new distribution centre in Birmingham. Operations director Steve Coffi n showed the company’s new aff ordable trailer tracker and Rovi in-cab display products at the show.

PETRO-CANADA – www.petrocanada.caWell established in North America, lubricants manufacturer Petro-Canada is now targeting European markets with its Duron UHP products specifi cally formulated for engines here. The company says it demonstrates best in class all-weather performance thanks to the purity of its base oil and low volatility.

PRIME DESIGN – www.primedesigneurope.euA regular exhibitor is Belgian roof rack specialists Prime Design, which demonstrated its award winning ergonomic ladder loading system ErgoRack, which allows quick and eff ortless loading/unloading of ladders.

RHINO PRODUCTS – www.rhinoproducts.co.ukIf it is quality roof racks and accessories you want, Rhino’s Safestow 3 is its latest ladder evolution. Likewise, its Pipe Tube, Safe Clamp and Ladder Stow 2 Aluminium Rack are crash tested and TUV approved.

SORTIMO – www.sortimo.co.ukTh e van racking specialist producer has introduced new manufacturer specfi c brochures showing a range of racking solutions for each vehicle type. Also highlighted was the new ProSafe lashing system. Interest in Sortimo products from Irish companies is continuing to increase exponentially.

STONERIDGE ELECTRONICS– www.stoneridgeelectronics.infoThe tachograph specialist launched its new Fleet Healthcheck, a no-cost check using information from fl eets to identify potential savings when using a one minute rule tachograph. It has calculated that an average of 45 minutes can be saved daily compared to an old style tachograph, equating to over £10,000 a year.

TERBERG DTS UK – www.terbergdts.co.ukEstablished over 140 years ago, the Dutch owned subsidiary based Halifax launched its fi rst ever all-electric distribution tractor. Based on the popular YT range, it can operate up to 16 hours before recharging.

TEVO – www.tevo.eu.comTh e company within the Modul-System Group that has over 30 years experience in producing modular van racking and shelving systems that are inter-changeable and fully compliant to crash safety tests.

TOMTOM BUSINESS SOLUTIONS - www.business.tomtom.comTh e telematics giant launched its new App Center at the CV Show, a dedicated web resource that showcases the range of business applications available for integration with the company’s f leet management technology, featuring products from third party providers building on TomTom’s open soft ware API, WEBFLEET.connect.

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REPORT | 19

Text & Photos: Jarlath Sweeney & Cathal Doyle www.fl eet.ie

20 | VISIT


R oad Spirit, the Belgian Group consisting of family owned and managed Transport and Logistics companies paid a visit to Ireland last month, spending some time with management and staff of Reynolds Logistics, the award winning bulk

logistics transport company. Established 85 years ago, Reynolds Logistics Ltd., proud recipients of the European Transport Company of the Year 2012, is one of the leading companies involved in the distribution of bulk fuels, lubricants, bitumens, specialist liquids and hazardous goods throughout Ireland, the UK and Europe. Th e 15 member strong delegation were welcomed by Andrew Reynolds, Managing Director, Reynolds Logistics and Financial Director, Declan Maxwell upon arrival at the Gibson Hotel, Dublin for a lunch briefi ng. From there the group were coached (by Dualway) to Reynold’s main Irish operation base at the Topez Terminal on the Alexandra Road at Dublin Port. Later that aft ernoon, the group was presented with an overview and background of Reynold’s business (which is now in its third generation). Next morning, a special treat awaited – a call to see the special private collection of vintage cars at Mercedes-Benz Ireland’s HQ on the Naas Road. While at the facility details of the Mercedes-Benz Actros was presented through representatives of Mercedes-Benz Belgium present, together with a guided tour of MUTEC, the main Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicle Dealership in Dublin. On behalf of Road Spirit, its President Herwig Van Der Straeten, expressed their gratitude for the opportunity and complimented the hosts. "We want to again thank you for your much appreciated hospitality and for your willingness to spend quite some of your precious time to show us around and to explain your policies that have led to your Company being named European Transport Company of the Year 2012. " "As all of us are citizens of the EU, it has been interesting as well to discuss Ireland’s actual status within the EU, which we are delighted to see improving dramatically since fi nancial troubles caused a dip in economic activity." He went on to explain the origins of Road Spirit, “Th e driving force our side (for many years) has been Jean-Marie Becker and his Staff . Mr. Becker runs a consulting and publishing company, specializing since several decades in Transport & Logistics. He is the one who created Road Spirit and managed to inspire oft en too individualistic entrepreneurs to look beyond their own companies in order to learn about quality and effi ciency practices and policies of other actors.” “We hope Reynolds will keep up being successful and capable of further developing a sustainable and profi table business model. You no doubt have created the tools to do so,” he concluded.

Andrew Reynolds commented on the visit, “We were delighted to host the Road Spirit group and inform them about our business. We discussed some of the things that are important to our operations including reliability of vehicles, light weight equipment, our IT systems and driver training. Also we had the opportunity to learn a bit about the visitors’ business including the use of Eco-Combi vehicles in Th e Netherlands.

Road Spirit Group visits Reynolds Logistics• Belgian Transport & Logistics Group meets with reigning European Transport Company of the year 2012.

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“B alancing the Mental and Physical Demands of the Driver,“ relating to fatigue and accident prevention

was the subject of a presentation by Siegfried Rothe, Research & Development Condition Enhancement at Daimer AG. Under the theme “Condition Enhancement,” Mr. Rothe addressed the Mercedes-Benz, TecForum Assistance Technologies in Stutt gart recently stated that drowsiness is the biggest single cause of collisions for goods transport drivers.

Siegfried began with a graph displaying the articulation/workload of the driver versus optimal performance required. He then highlighted the diff erent driver modes and said “monotony is a situation of reduced activity which results in feeling fatigue and drowsiness, decreased capacity to react and ultimately reduction in performance. Vigilance is required,” he emphasised, highlighting the driver’s readiness to devote att ention to a task over a long period of time while being aware of small alterations in the environment and being able to react to them. Microsleep, which is unwanted dropping or dozing off for a few seconds during long or monotonous journeys which can occur in two ways according to Mr. Rothe, through fatigue (exterior) versus drowsiness (interior).

“Exterior reasons for fatigue - monotony at the wheel and foreseeable driving situations - can be off set by periods of rest or by a change in the activity, while drowsiness, which is the psychological craving for sleep, can only be reduced by sleep. Continuing the diff erent driver modes, stress versus strain is another signifi cant issue. Th e input of all vibrations (from the vehicle on the road surface), and acoustic and visual factors aff ecting the driver permeate stress, and the eff ect of this stress leads to strain.

Th e advance of various safety innovations leads to risk minimization, he said, such as Lane Keeping Assist, Collision Prevention Assist and Blind Spot Assist. Realisation of the drivers’ physiological condition, and improving the capacity of the driver through targeted measures during breaks and recovery times and through conserving the

capacity and att ention while driving, are other risk minimisation measures suggested.

Although many road safety experts advise that use of mobile phones while driving at any time must be prevented, Mr. Rothe’s study regarding the telephone as a vitalizing measure is noteworthy. “Even the ringing of an incoming call already activates the driver,” he said. “Communication during monotone traffi c situation is activating,” he added but warned that the level and length of the activation are not the same for all telephone calls, they decrease with the number of telephone calls. “Activation lasts for a maximum of 20 minutes,” he added. In essence, Mr. Siegfried comes to the conclusion that “vitalizing measures increase comfort, and stabilising the driver condition provides an increased traffi c safety and an even more economic driving style.”

Th e next phase of his presentation entered into a more relaxed atmosphere. Literally! It dealt with the development of relaxation concepts and the benefi ts of ‘power napping’ were explained – from increased

att ention to extending life. “Fitness and Health to improve the driver’s well-being is paramount,” he emphasised, and he promoted Active Preventative Health measures for van drivers, by demonstrating a series of exercises for upper body and legs.

Among the existing measures to improve physical and mental demands in vans included:1) Cab Comfort: Air-conditioning, availability of warm water, good audio system.2) Driver Comfort: Cushioned driver’s seat (heated), multi-adjustable steering column, multifunctional steering column, parking sensors, halogen lamps, heat insulated glazing, electrical operation of sliding doors, Bluetooth phone and USB connections, speed limiter, rearview camera, light and rain sensors (wipers and lights).

Siegfried Rothe’s next project is to investigate synergies from truck and passenger car projects for vans and what possible measures can be ascertained with regard to activation and relaxation while driving or while in rest periods. He will check the feasibility for such measures and what motivation concepts for drivers could look like in order to actively follow preventative health measures.

22 | SAFETY

Condition Enhancement: Fatigue and Accident Prevention

What could be bett er than a personal coach with a tailor-made training programme to enhance your fi tness and general well-being, on hand to support you at any time of the day or night? Th e experts fr om Mercedes-Benz Cars and Mercedes-Benz Trucks are working closely together in this fi eld with a number of ideas fr om the Daimler research vehicle "TopFitTruck" will feature on board future series-production passenger cars fr om Mercedes-Benz.


SAFETY | 23

N ine out of ten accidents involving trucks are a result of the human factor. Th is was revealed in a recent report on traffi c safety and road accidents in Europe produced by Volvo Trucks.

Th e report was produced by the Accident Research Team at Volvo Trucks and is based on its own investigations of accidents over 40 years, as well as data obtained from various national and European authorities. It describes why accidents with trucks occur, their sequence and what can be done to reduce the risk of accidents and their consequences.

“90 per cent of all truck accidents stem entirely or partly from the human factor, for instance when one or more of the drivers of the involved vehicles are distracted or misjudge their speed,” says Carl Johan Almqvist, Traffi c and Product Safety Director at Volvo Trucks.

Th e report also reveals that drinking and driving is not one of the major causes of road accidents involving truck drivers. Only 0.5 per cent of truck drivers involved in serious accidents were under the infl uence of alcohol. Th e corresponding fi gure for accidents involving passenger cars varies between 15 and 20 per cent.

Heavy trucks are involved in 17 per cent of all fatal accidents and seven per cent of accidents resulting in personal injuries. Th e majority of accidents resulting in truck driver injuries are single-vehicle incidents in which the truck drives off the road. More than half of all serious accidents with trucks consist of collisions between cars and trucks.

“Access to facts about accidents is immensely valuable for our ongoing safety work, helping us make the right priorities in our product development. For instance, we have further enhanced safety levels in our latest truck models with a range of support systems that improve visibility, alert the driver or focus the driver’s att ention if something is not right,” explains Carl Johan Almqvist.

Th anks to safer vehicles, improved infrastructure and safer behaviour on the road, the number of fatal accidents on European roads has dropped continuously since the early 1990s. But far more lives would be able to be saved if more people used their seat belts, something that not even half of the truck drivers on European roads do. Ninety-fi ve per cent of the truck drivers who died in road accidents were not wearing seat belts.

“As long as people are injured in road accidents, we will continue to pursue higher safety levels. Firstly by making our trucks safer for drivers and other road users, and secondly by spreading knowhow and by impacting patt erns of behaviour and persuading more people to use the seat belt.”

Fatigue & Inattentiveness behind most accidents

I n our interconnected world, transport matt ers for the benefi t of the economy. The important question is, is our commercial fl eet resilient to support

demand and the associated changes?

In last month’s edition, the issues of increased costs fuelled by the continued absence of Post Codes were illustrated and the consequences to our economy. Th e Post Code topic was in direct response to the Government (rightly) wanting to support the growth of e-tailing. However, this was mooted in the absence of a parallel strategy addressing the issues in maintaining a sustainable and viable transport sector. Th e lack of policies continue to highlight the limitations of a non-cohesive approach in tackling the issues in this regard.

Advances in technologies with strategically located parcel collection points are enablers for enhanced home delivery. Th ese tools provide the potential to promote e-commerce as well as to create sustainable urban freight transportation systems. Th e logistical challenges of home delivery include; time slot schedule design, service requirements, time slot length, time slot overlap, number of time slots offered, delivery charges, modelling, dynamic modelling, human behaviour modelling, cost eff ective routing and of course key to this are Post Codes.

Big data is impacting on supply chain thinking and the ‘demand chain’ has to deal with both structured and un-structured data. With the advances in technology we have developed the capacity to create far more information than anyone can absorb or manage and in tandem the acceleration of change is happening faster than anyone is able to keep pace with.

Th e signifi cant rate of technological change has the ability to positively impact the wider aspects of society. Whilst technological advances are in general terms positive, we need to be aware

of the potential disruptive impacts also. New technologies may also drive economic disruption through radical change of adoption, and may cause a negative impact on current commercial operational values.

SCLG and its partner The World Trade Corporation talk of the Integrated Supply Chain (“ISC”), where global trade management is based on a system of trying to see and evaluate the entire Supply Chain as a whole. It is a framework enabling inter-relationships rather than single issues, for seeing and analyzing patt erns of change rather than static ‘snapshots’ relating to problems.

E-commerce enables businesses to sell their products and services directly to the consumers without establishing a physical point of sale. Most products purchased online will be transported to the end-users. An effi cient and reliable delivery system is essential for gaining customer loyalty online and consequently profi tability. Home delivery is increasingly becoming a key element

in e-commerce.

Th e logistical requirements of supply chains that extend to each customer’s address may stimulate greater complexity in distribution systems management, thus potentially causing higher costs in carriers’ fl eet operations. An increase in time-sensitive goods results in an increase in the number of delivery vehicles. More frequent home-based local deliveries will likely add to traffi c congestion and environmental problems in urban areas, making it more diffi cult for carriers to meet customer demands. Th ese changes create

challenges for the transport community.

Th e Irish Transport sector is critical to the economic well being of the country. It is straining under increasing pressure evidenced by more hauliers winding-up their operations. Fleets are gett ing older and not being replaced. Regulatory compliance and the associated costs has the potential to increase risks in the supply chains through natural human behaviour.

Politicians have the comfort of promoting potential solutions to problems within their limits of exploitation and from their own positions. Th ey tend not to see how their actions extend beyond the boundary of their roles and responsibilities. Th ey and their advisors need to view the transport sector and its issues from a more informed and strategic perspective.

Our interconnected world is becoming more complex and more dynamic. For policy makers and industry leaders, the absence of clear policies and strategies for the Transport Sector and for

Ireland in this new interconnected world is worrying. A successful and viable transport sector is not just infl uenced by volume and activity, it is infl uenced by the actions of everyone in the system.

Big Data, Disruptive Data, Demand Chain, e-commerce, export driven economies are all bound by frameworks of interrelated actions, which take time to appear. Policy

makers currently focus on the isolated issues", there is an urgent need to move away from this ineff ective position and get involved in strategic challenges and present a picture of the future where transport matt ers!

e-Commerce – Another challenge facing the Transport Industry

24 | LOGISTICS

FLEETTRANSPORT | JUNE 13 Text: Nigel Devenish

‘An efficient and reliable delivery system is essential for gaining customer loyalty online and consequently profitability. Home delivery is increasingly becoming a key element in e-commerce.’

SCLG Ireland,

Supply Chain Logistics Group

R obert Jervis and his team have staged ‘Multimodal’ at the NEC in Birmingham for each of the last six years, and the event has

grown steadily throughout the recession. It runs over three days and has a strong mix of exhibitors large and small and an ever stronger line-up of Seminars both within the main Exhibition Hall and in adjoining Meeting Rooms.

Right from the start Multimodal has had strong Irish support both in terms of stands and visitors. In some cases such as Dascher Logistics, itsalongside Irish agent alongside its British team joined representatives from the parent company on the stand, thus adding greatly to the local value for those interested in doing business in Ireland. Niall Hickey, Sales Manager at Johnston Logistics told us about the very substantial and growing groupage volumes coming in nightly through its Cologne hub, and volumes for all over Europe and further afi eld shipping through Manchester.

Over on the Woodside Distribution Group stand, Carson McMullan, incoming President of BIFA (British International Freight Association) was promoting both the activities of All Route Shipping and its Ships’ Agency arm, W.E.Williames as well as taking the opportunity to network with a number of the Shipping Lines represented and organisations including the Rail Freight Group, the FTA and others with similar agenda to BIFA.

At the very substantial Stena Freight stand, I met Frank Nieuwenhuys, the long-time Freight Commercial Manager for UK & Ireland who will leave Stena at the end of June. Richard Horswill, the Birkenhead based Head of Freight for UK & Ireland, and Hook of Holland based Rob Mitt elmeijer were also on the stand and very much promoting the new Stena Line Freight slogan, ‘Freight is great’. Th ough they insist that Stena Line maintains its strong focus on its passenger and car business, there is a new, much more freight mindset within the Gothenburg based company.

In speaking with the Stena people about the likely response to the imposition of signifi cantly higher pollution control standards, their general view

was that, having modifi ed their fuel surcharging rating system to refl ect the cost of fuel on the vessels in use on the specifi c service, it would be able retain customer confi dence as the volumes of low sulphur fuel being consumed rises and with it the surcharges. Richard spoke about Stena’s move into rail freight, with twice weekly trains from Verona to Kiel linked to the ferry service from there to Gothenburg for unaccompanied trailers while Rob Mitt elmeijer spoke about similar rail links from both Italy and Poland to the Stena Hook of Holland terminal. Bridget

Derry and some of her team arrived and joined the conversation which, by then, was turning to whether or not there might ever be a direct ferry route from Ireland to Spain. General view was that a weekend sailing from Ireland might fl y.

On the other side of the Hall, Damian McGrath, Commercial Manager of Seatruck Ferries was busy and more than happy with the level of interest in the company and its services. He told me that its withdrawal from the Belfast/Heysham route and re-deployment of vessels bett er suited to market conditions on other routes, had greatly improved the company’s fi nancial position. Th e level of interest at the Show would seem to support his view that 2013 would be a good year for Seatruck.

In the midst of all of the big stands and transport operators one small one stood out for me. I spoke with Max Carling at Levatonplatforms.com about his invention, a metal pallet type platform that he designed so as to be able to put delicate objects, in his case initially, restored Classic cars, into 20 ft containers. Th e car is totally secured to the platform which is secured in the container using the standard lashing points. Having, in my earlier life, had heart stopping moments as container doors were opened having conveyed prized cars across the North and Irish Seas, I was completely taken by Max’s simple idea.

Th ere was a huge range of topics covered by the Seminars. I was particularly interested by those on Low Sulphur Fuel and on PortCentric Logistics. One thought from the fi rst one was that a less sophisticated Bio-Fuel might be developed for Ship propulsion with a price considerably less than the diesel oil alternative.

At the Port Centric Logistics session which included speakers from the soon to be opened DP World, London Gateway, PD Ports at Teesport and Stephen Carr of Liverpool based, Peel Ports, I think that I slightly upset the applecart by suggesting that discharging ocean containers near the Quay at the import Port meant that exporters would be starved of boxes. Peel Ports were ‘on-side’ on this one, but that’s a story for another day.

Roll on Multimodal 2014.

FLEETMARITIME | SUMMER 2013

FREIGHT FERRY SERVICES

E [email protected] 0044 28 87784949

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Multimodal 2013 – a visitor's view

fl eetMaritime: IRISH SHIPPING & FREIGHT

Volume 8, No. 3 Summer 2013

Compiled by Howard Knott Edited by Jarlath Sweeneyemail: maritime@fl eet.ie

MARITIME 1 | 25

“A roaring success” is how event organiser Robert Jar v is described the 6th running of the only UK & Ireland event

for the freight and transport sectors. With over 6000 visitors, an increase of more than

18% on last year “packed seminar sessions, an over-subscribed VIP Dinner and a busy hog roast party rounded it all off nicely”, commented Robert. “Rebookings for 2014 are exceptionally brisk,” he added. To be held from 29th April – 1st May, it runs alongside

the CV Show 2014 in the vast exhibitions arena that is the NEC, Birmingham.

AEROTAILS – www.aerotails.comFrom Bath, the Roman innovation heritage must rub-off at Aerotails as it develops low cost aerodynamic kits for vans, and trucks (side skirts) that are easy to repair. Fitt ing is superquick too!

ANALYTIQA – www.analytiqa.comResearch agency Analytiqa recently conducted a survey with Grant Th ornton to reveal that the tough economic landscape is likely to remain in the near future. Mark O’Bornick and Conor Anderson were present.

BPW – www.bpw.co.ukTh e German companies new TCONTROL telematics system was launched which includes EBS monitoring, provides real-time data such as track n’ trace, trailer speed and maintenance plans, etc.

DACHSER – www.dachser.co.ukNiall Hickey and Albert Johnston represented Johnston Logistics, the Irish agents for Dachser, one of EU’s leading global logistics players. Albert showed us the plans for a new integrated centre in Northampton.

DENNISON TRA ILERS – www.dennisontrailers.comWith two manufacturing plants in Ireland (Naas) and UK (Lancaster), Dennison Trailers is a leading name in the industry with its award winning gooseneck skeletals designed to suit 12.2m (40 ft ) containers.

KRONE TRA ILERS – www.krone.de As Europe’s largest inter-modal swap body producer, Krone off ers a broad range of insulated trailers, chassis, skeletals with special designs for the UK and Ireland markets.

LEVATON PLATFORMS – www.levatonplatforms.comA new simple way to ship vehicles and fragile cargo in ISO containers, the Levaton Platforms feature no moving parts, has a lifespan of 10 years and a working load of 5500kg and is made to fi t 20 and 40 ft containers.


Multimodal 2013 – NEC Birmi26 | MARITIME 11

AEROTAILS

ANALYTIQA BPW

DACHSER DENNISON TRA ILERS

KRONE TRA ILERS LEVATON PLATFORMS

IRISH SEA ROUTES


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Text: Rob Van Dieten - rob@fl eet.ie FLEETMARITIME | SUMMER 2013

mingham UK, 23-25 April 2013MARITIME 111 | 27

EUROPEAN ROUTES


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MCCULLA (IRELAND) LTD – www.mcculla.co.uk“Superior solutions from a unique customer focused team,” is the working mission theme from the Lisburn headquartered fi rm. McCulla provides temperature-controlled storage and distribution companies serving the UK, all of Ireland and Europe.

MONTRA CON – www.montracon.comNews from the Northern Irish manufacturer is its appointment as sole agent for Europe for Swinglift , the New Zealand designed trailer mounted container handling system that lift s/drops ISO containers.

NARROW AISLE – www.fl exi.co.ukPlans are afoot at Narrow Aisle to expand production facilities at its Tipton Headquarters whereby increased numbers of its Flexi articulated forklift trucks can roll-off to meet demand from the UK and abroad.

PROTEUS – www.proteussoft ware.comAmong the number of exhibitors on the UKWA stand was Proteus which specialises in warehouse/transport management and supply chain soft ware. Linda Rodway was pleased with the high number of enquiries.

SDC TRA ILERS – www.sdctrailers.comA nother Northern Ir ish based trai ler manufacturer to exhibit here is fresh from gaining a big order of 250 new curtainsiders/skeletals from Hireco. SDC sponsored the local Mid-Ulster Truck Festival held last May.

TERBERG DTS (UK) – www.terberg.dts.co.ukTh e number one supplier of Sea Port, industrial and distribution fi ft h wheel tractors off ers 24/7 365 days a year support. Trailers, forklift s, aviation equipment and other services are provided.

TEREX – www.terexportsolutions.comTailor-made handling solutions from a single source is on off er here whether it’s loading, unloading, transport, storage or handling. Derek Robson, Company Representative, is keen to trace his Mayo roots!

UKWA/AIWA – www.ukwa.org.ukPictured at the announcement that the UKWA/AIWA UK and Irish Warehousing Association has adopted Transaid as its offi cial charity. John Maguire, Roger Wiliams (UKWA/AIWA) and Gary Forster represented Transaid.

MCCULLA (IRELAND) LTD MONTRA CON

NARROW AISLE PROTEUS

SDC TRA ILERS TERBERG DTS (UK)

TEREX UKWA/AIWA


In launching the tenth annual edition of the Irish Maritime Development Offi ce (IMDO) “Irish Marine Transport

Economist”, its CEO Glenn Murphy pointed to signifi cant developments over that period.

In the last ten years 484 million freight tonnes have passed through Ports on the island of Ireland with ever more of that cargo packed in containers. About 11.7 million 20ft equivalent boxes (TEU) passed over the Irish Quays, while another signifi cant growth area was the number of cruise vessel calls. In 2003 there were 127 such visits, in 2012 there were 229 while 2013 promises signifi cantly higher fi gures again. On the World stage the order book for container ships with over 8000 TEU has increased eleven fold since 2003. Within the Report this deep sea vessel order book is analysed in further detail with the explosion in numbers of vessels signifi cantly

larger than 8,000 TEU being built as Shipping Lines seek to further drive down costs.

Looking at the signifi cant business sectors for Ireland, the Report states that Bulk cargoes which collapsed with the economic downturn have now recovered strongly and have returned to 2003 levels. Animal Feed imports increased by 34% in 2012 over the previous year and, in fact, Agri-related products accounted for 22% of the total dry bulk market in 2012.

On the Lo-Lo container market Dublin remained the leading port accounting for 55% of the total unit throughput with a 1% volume increase to 527,734 TEU. Dublin also led the fi eld in the Ro-Ro trailer sector with a throughput of 719,121 units which is almost more than the throughput of the next three largest Ports in this sector, Belfast, Larne and Rosslare.

In the cruise ship business almost all of the Ports had a good year in 2012, with many smaller Ports welcoming their fi rst calls. Dublin hosted 87 visits but Belfast harbour showed the strongest increase with 45 stop-off s, up by 45% from the previous year.

Th e Document also contains not only an analysis of the development of the Irish and world economies over the ten year period, but its concluding section goes into the developments in world shipping and the drivers of those developments. (Th e IMDO IMTE can be found on the website, www.imdo.ie)


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AN ESSENTIAL PART OF YOUR TEAM

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28 | MARITIME 1V

IMDO Publication highlights ten years of changes

Maritime MinutesTh e Irish Continental Group has reported on its fi rst quarter for 2013, the period up to 11 May. The Eucon subsidiary which operates the Lo-Lo container business had a very strong growth during the period with a 10% volume increase of carryings to 102,100 TEU. Ro-Ro freight volumes also increased with a 6.4% higher fi gure at 71,000 units, while passenger and car volumes slipped. Th e Company’s container terminal operation in Dublin’s business held steady while that at Belfast dropped by 3.4%.

Th e Maersk Container Group has launched the fi rst of 20 sister ships. Each will have a capacity of 18,270 TEU’s and a length of 399.25 metres. Some indication of the speed of progress of ship design can be seen from the fact that the current largest vessels in the Maersk Fleet, some of which are only now entering trade, have a capacity of 15,500 TEU but the cost of carrying each container is 35% more on the older vessels that the new series.

Th e Port of Shanghai has surged further ahead in the World Container Port rankings with a 9.3% increase in throughput in 2011 over the previous year to 31.74 million TEU. Th is is over 40 times more than the combined Irish Port throughput. Europe’s number 1 Port remains Rott erdam with a 2011 throughput of 11.88 million TEU.

SHIPPING & FREIGHT | 29

www.fl eet.ie

Multimodal 2013NEC, Birmingham Review Part II

Britt any Ferries – www.britt any-ferries.comBritt any Ferries dedicated freight-only weekend service to Northern Spain enables hauliers to by-pass France and its weekend driving restrictions. It operates from Plymouth, Poole and Portsmouth and of course Cork.

P&O Ferrymasters – www.poferrymasters.comNada Marinovic (Hazchem Network) and Lilly White (Horizon) were on the P&O stand to explain about the additional services on off er from the top transnational and logistics service providers.

Seabridge – www.seabridge.ieLouise O’Donnell, Deane Ferris and Danny Davis were explaining to visitors about Seabridge’s fast and effi cient services to Ireland “with complete control and visibility across its network.”

Eurotunnel – www.eurotunnelfreight.comHaving experienced crossing the Channel in this way, it is the most environmentally-friendly way to cross to France with a vehicle. Brian Howlett , Emma Whelan and Teddy Lambic were on hand.

Port of Calais : Boulogne Sur Mer – www.calais-port.comAs the closest Ports to the UK from the EU Mainland, Calais and Boulogne in Northern France also off ers storage facilities. Port of Calais has ambitious expansion plans as displayed here.

Seatruck Ferries Ltd – www.seatruckferries.comKim Swan explained to us that Seatruck is the Irish Sea Freight specialist that provides an independent and unique alternative for haulage operators and is economical and reliable.

Irish Shipping & Transport – www.irishshipping.comSinead Phelan and John Hayes represented the 100% Irish owned Coolock based company that specialises in Ireland-UK-EU groupage services with full track and trace facilities.

Samskip – www.samskipmultimodal.comDutch company Samskip Multimodal is the EU’s largest multimodal operator off ering the best combination of short sea, rail, road and barge services, using its own equipment.

Stena Line Freight – www.stenalinefreight.comStand 489 housed Stena Line which promoted its whole route network: 31 key Ports, 38 vessels, 22 Ferry routes plus road and rail connections all across Northern Europe and beyond.

Pictured is the Fitzgerald built 6.1metre Lamberet Refrigerated body.

FITZGERALDSVEHICLE WORKS LTDCullen, Co Cork,Telephone: (029) 79200

FLEETTRANSPORT | JUNE 13 Text: Rob Van Dieten - rob@fl eet.ie

30 | TRAILER

A shbourne Truck Centre, Irish Sales agents for Faymonville Trailers recently successfully conducted orders to delivery

stage with Mark Lonergan Transport and Irish Drilling.

Pictured at the handover of two Concept 4 lock skeletal trailers to Mark Lonergan are Joe Mooney, Ashbourne Truck Centre with Mark Lonergan and his son Matt hew and Sarah Mooney. Th e new units are specifi ed with front lift axles, to suit generator-sets for refrigerated containers. A new Faymonville MAX 3-axle extendable step frame trailer is at work for Loughrea fi rm Irish Drilling equipped with winch,

steer axle and double fl ip ramps. Joe Mooney shakes on the deal with Pat McCole from Irish Drilling.

II n times of rising fuel prices, aerodynamics is an increasingly important topic in the commercial vehicle business. TrailerTail, a rear-drag aerodynamics

device manufactured by the Californian Company ATDynamics which premiered at the IAA European Commercial Vehicles Show in Hanover, Germany last autumn, gives new hope to the European transport sector.

‘Gone with the Wind’, is one of the best-selling books in the world but in the books of the transport and logistics industry particularly, fuel costs for road transport are also gone with the wind. We are talking about aerodynamics, which has gained more and more importance over the past years due to increasing fuel prices. Th e drag coeffi cient, or cd value, has successfully infl uenced the design of automobiles in general for improved aerodynamics. For the transport business, and specifi cally the commercial trailer sector on the other hand, streamlining for bett er aerodynamic results remains diffi cult without any signifi cant solution in sight. Th e superstructures of trailers are almost impossible to be re-formed into a streamlined design without extending the normative measurements or reducing the load capacity. Th e Californian Company ATDynamics, tackled this problem and came up with an idea beyond the trailer.

Andrew Smith founded ATDynamics in 2006 with one goal: To create an energy effi ciency concept for a sector that needed to catch up. Th e

result of his work is TrailerTail, a product that streamlines commercial trailers signifi cantly without changing their form. Th e idea seems simple and the application of this foldable device on the rear doors of semi-trailers appears to be quite easy. Th e manufacturer talks about two hours of work with basic tools like hammer, drill, rivet gun, jigsaw, a few screws and fi nally, the TrailerTail kit. “Some people become apprehensive when it comes to so called easy-to-handle-kits which turn out to be a nightmare in reality. Th e TrailerTail kit takes away that fear,” stated Andrew.

“Let’s have a closer look,” he suggested. “Our installation video on ATDynamics’ website shows explicitly how things work and it specifi es the tools and recommends two people for the installation. A stencil gives the accurate fi xation points and the rest is craft smanship.” ATDynamics design pays att ention to details so that rear lights won’t be covered and the right distances to the frame are kept. Special bolts anchor in the back portals and seal the inside part of the doors. Aft er completion of the installation the rear doors can be opened as usual. TrailerTail folds up to allow the doors to be fi xated to the side walls in their normal way.

TrailerTail gives a remarkable boost in fuel effi ciency. A closer look at the development of TrailerTail with its extensive third party testing, verifi ed cost savings, and certifi cates from the relevant Federal Authorities in the

U.S. and Canada shows that this product has tremendous economic and ecologic relevance and has a great future in the international transport business. More than 15,000 TrailerTail devices have proven their durability and cost eff ectiveness for major transport companies in the U.S., and the concept has undergone SAE Type II J1321 testing, which is the industry standard to examine the energy consumption of commercial vehicles. Th ose tests were validated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). “The fuel savings figures speak for themselves,” explained Andrew, “providing up to 6.6% improvement in fuel effi ciency at speeds of 105 km/h. Th is sums up to 18.8 litres of fuel saved per 1,000 kilometres driven. At current fuel prices in Europe, TrailerTail technology off ers att ractive savings and average return on investment within one year for long haul fl eet operators.”

On 15 April last the European Commission proposed new, more extensive legislation that will also allow the maximum effi ciency 1.2 metre TrailerTail to be installed on existing trailers in Europe. Mr. Smith is buoyed by this proposed move, “Th ere are no reasons hindering European transport companies from using TrailerTail as an aerodynamic plus on their trailers. Hauliers can now enjoy this drive and save concept and cash in the fuel savings while helping to protect the environment.”

TrailerTail: up to 6.6% fuel savings*American aerodynamic kit for trailers enters European market

Ashbourne Truck Centre delivers more MAX

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Finland EUR 1.604 1.652 1.482 Serbia RSD 147.40 - 147.40

France EUR 1.529 1.599 1.347 Slovakia EUR 1.479 - 1.364

Georgia GEL 2.15 2.20 2.15 Slovenia EUR 1.463 1.496 1.341

Germany EUR 1.536 1.631 1.397 Spain EUR 1.392 1.511 1.319

Greece EUR 1.637 1.789 1.331 Sweden SEK 14.48 14.98 14.28

Hungary HUF 438.00 - 438.00 Switzerland CHF 1.767 1.817 1.844

Ireland EUR 1.599 - 1.499 Turkey TRY 4.56 4.65 4.08

Italy EUR 1.732 1.879 1.611 Ukraine UAH 10.75 12.30 9.75

Kosovo EUR 1.21 - 1.20 UK GBP 1.334 1.418 1.382

Latvia LVL 0.914 0.944 0.867 USA USD - - 1.021

As well as being devastating to those involved, road collisions have massive financial, reputational and legal

implications for organisations. Given that driving is the most high risk activity most employees engage in, managing the risks associated with it is a fundamental part of an employer’s legal and moral duty of care towards its employees. It is essential that organisations have a strong safety culture, supported and promoted from the top down, with relevant policies and procedures in place and followed.

Th e extent of the problemRoad collisions account for 39% of work related deaths in the EU, and are the world’s leading non-medical cause of death and serious injury. Th e cost to employers arising from work related road collisions is estimated to run into hundreds of millions of euros in Ireland alone. Cars are most commonly involved in road collisions in Ireland, according to fi gures compiled by the Road Safety Authority for 2008 to 2011.

Th ere are three key reasons why it is vital to manage your company’s fl eet safety.

1. Moral and social responsibilityAs a manager responsible for company vehicles, it is vital that you understand the potential impact of poor fl eet safety on drivers, road users and the public. If a driver is involved in a collision, it may harm their physical and emotional well-being; lead to lost working time, cause distress to colleagues and aff ect staff morale. If someone is killed or seriously injured, the devastating eff ects on co-workers, families and communities are immeasurable.

2. Investing and saving moneyManagers need to understand that spending money on fl eet safety can save the company money in reduced insurance and collision costs, vehicle repairs, fuel costs, lost orders and staff sick leave. For example, if you examine fi nancial losses incurred by the company from collisions, or create scenarios to demonstrate potential fi nancial losses, such as repair and fuel bills, insurance premiums, average insurance claims, and sick leave - compare these with company revenue or drivers’ salaries to help demonstrate how bett er fl eet safety can benefi t the business fi nancially. For example, “the amount of money collisions cost our company annually equates to the salaries of three drivers.”

Consider the amount of revenue your company would need to generate to cover the cost of road collisions and injuries. A recent study by food manufacturer Nestle found the company would need to sell an extra 235 million chocolate bars to cover costs of uninsured losses due to road collisions in a year. Working out similar revenue comparisons makes a strong and memorable point to convince those in control of purse strings in your company to invest in fl eet safety management.

3. Legal complianceTh e Safety Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 states categorically that senior management have ultimate responsibility for ensuring the required safety standards, and that it is management’s responsibility to ensure work related road safety management practices are established.

Whether you want to implement a fl eet safety policy from scratch, introduce a new initiative or change an existing one, make clear what you want to do, how it can be done and what the potential benefi ts are.

For detailed guidance on how to manage Fleet Safety go to: www.vehiclesatwork.ie

Safety Matters . . . . Safety Matters . . . . The Business Case for Fleet Safety

FUEL PRICE UPDATE (WEEK 22) / SAFETY MATTERS | 31

T her mo K i ng , t he lead i ng manu fact u rer of transpor t temperature control systems for a variety of mobile applications and a

brand of Ingersoll Rand, is celebrating 75 years of trusted expertise, innovation, partnership and performance in 2013. Sites around the world, including more than 400 employees at the manufacturing facility in Galway, Ireland, commemorated this milestone with events throughout the month of May. Th e anniversary celebration at the Th ermo King facility — located at Monivea Road, Mervue, in Galway — on May 18, 2013, included a celebratory luncheon, an employee recognition program, truck and trailer displays as well as

family entertainment.

“For 75 years, Thermo King has been the refrigerated transport expert, providing the ultimate assurance of freshness, comfort, reliability, effi ciency and performance for our customers every day,” said Manlio Valdes, President of Th ermo King & Trane in the Europe, Middle East, India & Africa region. “Over the next 75 years and beyond, we will keep delivering what matt ers – more innovative, sustainable solutions and services that retain their value longer than any others in the industry.”

Th ermo King operations in Galway have provided important benefi ts to the local community, with

a long history of supporting organizations that enhance the lives of area residents and institutions. Galway employees support local sports and charity organizations, as well as Government employment initiatives such as apprenticeships, local University partnerships and placement of students. “Th ermo King has been a proud citizen of Galway for more than 37 years,” said Cormac Mac Donncha, Plant Manager for Th ermo King Galway. “Support from Local Government, a hardworking culture and strong community ties are all important factors to the continued success of our company.”

Thermo King celebrates 75 year of Transport Temperature Control Innovation

32 | MILESTONE


Galway Plant in Mervue marks anniversary

I n 1938 the transport refrigeration business was still literally in the ice age, a time when using ice and salt was the only practical way for hauliers to keep

perishable shipments from spoiling. Visionary Joe Numero knew there had to be a bett er way. Numero commissioned Fred Jones to develop technology to keep perishable produce from spoiling during transport. Jones responded about 30 days later aft er having developed the fi rst successful mechanical transport refrigeration unit, giving birth to a whole new industry.

Thermo King, the company founded by Joe Numero, a manufacturer of transport temperature control systems for a variety of mobile applications and a brand of Ingersoll Rand celebrates its 75th anniversary this year.

Innovations address operators’ needs for bett er performanceTh e science of refrigerated transportation has advanced dramatically over the last 75 years with advancements such as nose-mounted units, diesel-powered units, start–stop temperature controls and advanced electronics with remote monitoring. Th e next 75 years will no doubt bring about customer-driven innovations in technology, service and operations that are just as impactful. Industry leaders like Th ermo King are applying current and emerging technologies and practices to help their customers meet challenges and achieve higher levels of performance with lower total cost of ownership.

Th ese are some thoughts on what the future may hold for the refrigerated transport industry:

Fuel economy will be a big driver of innovation • - and with good reason. Fuel represents the largest component of total operating costs for most refrigerated fl eet operators, and fuel prices represent one of their least controllable expenses. Refrigeration equipment manufacturers will continue to look for ways to design and build more fuel-effi cient systems and to use advanced electronic controls to improve engine performance and reliability while reducing fuel consumption. Th eir focus will be on developing technologies that pay for themselves many times over the life of the refrigeration system with bett er fuel economy and reliability.

Sustainability will be a watchword for some • time to come. New products have been introduced that use less fuel and therefore leave a smaller environmental footprint. For example, Th ermo King continues to off er low emission engines that comply with European Union Directives on emissions, while also off ering bett er performance, lower cost of ownership and improved reliability. Operators will willingly adopt environmentally friendly products and practices if they make economic sense.

Highly efficient diesel engines • will continue to power most refrigeration and air-conditioning units on trucks, trailers and buses for the foreseeable future. But manufacturers are making advances with other engine concepts and alternative fuels. For example, fuel-saving hybrid-electric engines are common in the truck and trailer market. All-electric and natural gas engines are already available for buses. Th ermo King has pioneered the almost silent, zero emissions use of liquid carbon dioxide in its ground-breaking CryoTech trailer and truck range.

Th e need for safe, comfortable bus and light • rail transportation will continue to grow in the coming years. Th e greatest areas for growth will likely be in the developing countries of Asia-Pacifi c, India and Latin America, where the population is growing and becoming more urban, affl uent and mobile.

Advances in prognostic capabilities will enable • continuous improvement in refrigeration unit reliability. Th e use of predictive soft ware and embedded sensors will detect issues before they become serious problems and monitor mission-critical components to maximize their service life and predict when they might fail so a qualifi ed dealer can intervene.

Linkage between manufacturers and their • dealer networks will become stronger as both parties work to ensure they are providing the best possible service to refrigerated fl eet operators.

Food safety and freshness have become • priorities, driven both by Government regulation and consumer pressure. Current and pending regulations in Europe, the United States and elsewhere place new expectations on food producers, processors and transporters, including the requirement to trace shipments across all links of the supply chain. To help meet these requirements, advanced refrigeration systems include the capability to track, record and transmit data that can help fl eet operators establish the location of a particular load at a particular time, as well as document conditions inside the refrigerated container, truck or trailer.

W hether they are hauling food, • pharmaceuticals, chemicals, cosmetics or some other temperature-sensitive load, operators are tapping into advanced tracking capabilities that use global positioning system data and advanced wireless communications technologies to provide operators with

real-time and historical information about load temperature and asset location – for one trailer or an entire fl eet – answering operators’ need for bett er safety, security and effi ciency.

Operators can monitor temperatures and • other variables, remotely change temperature set-points and control parameters, download reports, change operating modes and respond to alarms using any computer, tablet or smart phone that is connected to their secure network. Th ese capabilities take pressure off drivers who now can focus totally on the operation of their vehicles, rather than the operation of the refrigeration unit.

Intelligent solutions and advanced • analytics give refrigerated fl eet operators the opportunity to squeeze even more fuel economy from their refrigeration units. For example, fl eet operators and their customers can work together using advanced analytics to determine the optimal set-point and control parameters for a particular load. Raising the set-point by a single degree can yield as much as a 2 percent improvement in fuel effi ciency, according to Th ermo King analysis. Th e ability to do “what-if” modelling using multiple variables gives shippers and operators the information they need to make data-supported decisions to improve effi ciency and reduce fuel costs, without sacrifi cing cargo safety and freshness.

Th e demand to move food and other temperature-sensitive goods from their point of production to their point of consumption will continue to grow in the years ahead, with no end in sight. A slower than expected economic recovery, volatile fuel prices and more stringent environmental and food-safety requirements make this a challenging time for everyone in the cold chain, including owners and operators of refrigerated fl eets.

With technology and sound operating practices, the refrigerated transportation industry stands ready to meet the needs of its customers and society for the next 75 years, and beyond.

MILESTONE | 33

www.fl eet.ie

Delivering safety, freshness and comfort: the future of transport refrigeration

el enengigiiinenes smososoo t

g rre commonarkekeet. AAAAlll -elel ctc ric andalreaddy available e fof rpioneeredthhthealmoost

real-time ana d hih sts orical

by Karin De Bondt, Regional Director for Th ermo King for the UK & Ireland

34 | LCV


A t f i rst glance the new look Mercedes-Benz Sprinter does

not look that new, though dedicated vehicle watchers will no doubt spot the external diff erences. Except for the chassis being lowered by 30 mm and styling changes to the front profi le, the dimensions are as such unchanged. Nevertheless, there is a marked diff erence when the two models are viewed together.

However this is not a criticism, throughout its eighteen year history Sprinter has been a success for the Daimler brand and has recorded sales of over 2.5 million units worldwide, so the old adage of if it's not broke don’t fi x it, may well apply.

As Sprinter is built on the same line as a number of other models, including the US version of Sprinter, marketed under the Freightliner banner (as well as the Volkswagen Craft er), to radically change the vehicle shape or dimensions would mean an expensive retooling of manufacturing plants.

Changes to the bonnet, front grille and headlights distinguish the model from it’s predecessor and the updates give Sprinter a lift ; although the reasons are

not solely for aesthetics. Th e new Mercedes-

Benz Sprinter is the fi rst van to achieve Euro 6certifi cation, and as with heavier commercials, the need for improved engine temperature management demanded a new front grille.

Although Sprinter’s power options are unchanged, all engines are now Euro VI compliant as standard. To date the performance of the BlueTec 6 range has been inspiring. Th e Sprinter’s BlueTec engines allows Mercedes-Benz to claim a 20% reduction in fuel consumption, with a stated 6.3 l/100 kms over a combined test cycle. Th is fi gure is signifi cant and places Sprinter in-line with many passenger cars. Importantly further savings are achieved in the garage, with service intervals (depending on work cycles) now extended to 60,000 kms.

In addition to the V6 OM642, there are three four-cylinder engines with power outputs ranging from 70 kW to 140 kW (95-190 hp). To meet Euro 6, the BlueTec series uses SCR, with an AdBlue tank fi tt ed under the bonnet. Th e reservoir has a capacity of 18 litres and projected consumption equates to approximately 3 litres/1,000 kms. A light

warns the driver when the AdBlue tank is running low, and if the tank is not fi lled the system will initially reduce engine speed to 75% of normal. If the

tank remains unfi lled, vehicle speed will then be reduced to 20 kp/h. Th e

system has been used in thousands of Sprinters in the United States for over

three years, and to date has proved reliable. Speaking of reliability, Sprinter has covered

over 8 million kilometres in preproduction testing.

For those who desire or need such a thing, Sprinter will be available with a supercharged 1.8 litre four-cylinder petrol engine, this unit will also be the basis for a natural gas powered version. All engines drive through either of the two transmission options, a standard six-speed manual gearbox, or alternatively the 7G-Tronic automatic with lock-up clutch.

Th e styling updates are continued inside, and include new trim levels, gear selector, and steering wheel, which promote the sense of a new vehicle. A hi-end audio/entertainment/navigation system featuring Bluetooth that fi lls the centre of the dash is well positioned and ergonomically fi ne. All updates add an extra touch of class and help to remove Sprinter from the stereotypical idea of a van.

Of the models available to drive, we opted for the standard everyday 316 panel van for our fi rst run. Immediately we sensed the enhancements made to att ain Euro 6 have realised some other benefi ts, especially regarding noise levels on the road. We found the Euro 6 Sprinter a smoother drive and noticeably quieter than the previous Euro 5 version. Driving through downtown Dusseldorf the driveline was fl exible in traffi c and easy to work with. A positive shift patt ern from the six-speed

Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz

‘Sprinting ‘Sprinting

Safely to Safely to

Euro 6’Euro 6’

LCV | 35

Text & Photos: Paul White - paul@fl eet.ie www.fl eet.ie

manual transferred the 360 Nm of torque smoothly, and was quite forgiving. Th e BlueEFFICIENCY Eco Stop/Start fi tt ed to the 163 hp four-cylinder reacted promptly, and will no doubt help to save fuel on the urban cycle.

Out on the Autobahn Sprinter was no slouch. Given the blustery conditions on the day, handling was positive with good feedback from the nicely weighted and accurate steering. Road and wind noise was minimal, and with just under 1,200 kgs on-board the ride quality was comfortable with the van feeling assured and well balanced.

It was a similar experience in the 319 BlueTec Crew Bus. Apart from this unit having the 6 cylinder 190 hp engine, the other diff erence was the 7-speed G-Tronic auto transmission. Th e smooth shift ing transmission is stress free in city driving, and would no doubt extend the driveline service life, if the van is being used by multiple drivers with varying levels of driving style. In passenger transport use it would also deliver a more comfortable experience for the customers.

Having driven two versions of the Euro 6, we decided to opt for a new Sprinter fi tt ed with the Euro 5 engine to compare performance. Our 313 had the same displacement as the 316, and although thirty horsepower smaller it produces the same torque, but at 200 rpm earlier. Th e drive confi rmed our initial thoughts that the Euro 6 version is somewhat smoother and quieter, even though this Euro 5 was wrapped in the new body style and so had the same level of sound proofi ng.

As featured in Fleet Transport in a recent edition, the Sprinter range has delivered many world fi rsts in the van segment, and the new model is no diff erent. It premiers fi ve driver assistance systems, one being the Cross Wind Assist (CWA) originally fi tt ed to the ‘S Class’ in 2009. Sprinter gets CWA as standard, and this clever device, working through the EBS applies a braking force to the relevant side, keeping the van on track when a sudden gust of

wind hits side-on. We were able to experience this for ourselves on a closed test track - that just happened to have a wind machine. Th e experience clearly demonstrated the safety benefi ts of CWA, and not just for the unsuspecting driver who is suddenly blown off course - it benefi ts vehicles to either side.

Along with CWA, Sprinter has options for Blind Spot Assist, High Beam Assist, Lane Keeping Assist and Collision Prevention Assist (CPA). Figures quoted at the presentation stated “19% of all serious accidents in Germany are rear-end collisions.” It was further highlighted that the main causes are driver inatt entiveness, distractions, and a misperception of the rate of deceleration of the vehicle in front, resulting in insuffi cient braking. CPA operates at speeds above 30 kp/h. Th e radar based system warns the driver with a light and then with an alarm when there is insuffi cient distance to the vehicle in front.

Most of the driver assistance systems a re opt ion a l . Mercedes-Benz believe that not everyone needs all of them, so operators can select which will benefi t their operations the most. For example, as CPA only works above speeds of 30 kph, city centre couriers may not benefit as much as nat ionw ide operators. It is possible that better insurance premiums could be

negotiated to off set the cost of safety systems. Some insurers have already expressed a willingness to reduce premiums in line with the number of devices fi tt ed. Irrespective of insurance premiums, the cost of a vehicle off the road for even minor damage could easily outweigh the initial layout

Being unable to make Sprinter bett er by making it bigger, the engineers’ att ention has focused on the important issues of extending service intervals, fuel effi ciency, and road safety. Th e fuel consumption and emission fi gures are impressive, and improved road safety benefi ts everyone. Eighteen years on, Sprinter’s evolution has continued in a progressive manner, allowing it to constantly set new standards in the light commercial vehicle sector.

Mercedes-Benz

‘Sprinting

Safely to

Euro 6’

Spec Check: Mercedes-Benz SprinterVersion 313 316 319Body Type Panel Van Panel Van Crew BusEmission Rating Euro 5 Euro 6 Euro 6Engine 313 CDI 316 CDI BlueTec 319 CDI BlueTecDesignation OM 651 OM 651 OM 642Displacement 2,143 cc 2,143 cc 2,987 ccCylinders 4 4 6Power 95 kW / 129 hp 120 kW / 163 hp 140 kW / 190 hpTorque 360 Nm @

1200 - 2400 rpm360 Nm @1400 - 2400 rpm

440 Nm @1400 - 2400 rpm

Transmission Six-Speed Manual

Six-Speed Manual

Seven SpeedG-Tronic, Auto

Summary of New FeaturesEuro 6 Compliance Crosswind Assist (Standard)Collision Prevention Assist Blind Spot Assist

High Beam Assist Lane Keeping Assist

Revised Interior Lower ChassisService intervals at 60,000 kms 7G-Tronic Auto Transmission

By October 1st 2013 all HGVs using the national road network in France must be equipped with the Ecotax On-Board Unit.

FRENCH

For more further informationEmail: [email protected] Or call: 01 861 3215

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50% savings on storage spaceWork in narrow aisles

Improved efficiencyVersatile indoor & outdoor operation

Lower costsReplace counterbalance and reach trucks

• LPG and AC electric models• Lift capacities up to 2,500kg• 5 year warranty

in association with Rosslare Europort

The leading Awards Programme for the Irish Road Transport and Haulage Industry.

Enter online at www.fleet.ie


Award CategoriesAward Categories

This category is open to operators that transport goods within Ireland and are registered in the Irish Republic. Companies will need to show the active measures they have taken to improve service levels and to grow the company, in both size and profi tability. The judges will be looking for all-round commitment to good business practice led by a commercially minded individual.

National Haulier of the Year

(sponsored by Volvo Trucks)

Open to Irish registered hauliers that transport goods overseas. Details of vehicle fl eet and type of contracts undertaken must be outlined. If there are depots overseas, please state together with measures taken in terms of driver and load security when overseas. Adhering to European/International legislation is also a key consideration within this category, such as meeting Low Emission Zone areas etc.

International Haulier of the Year

(sponsored by Thermo King)

Entrants must operate their own fl eet of vehicles to distribute their own goods. Companies will need to show the active measures they have taken to improve service levels and to grow the company, in both size and profi tability. Judges will focus on investments made to increase effi ciency of the distribution sector of your business/production facility.

Own-Account Transport Operator

of the Year

(Sponsored by Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicles)

Operators of own vehicle(s) as an owner-driver are eligible to enter this category. History of involvement in business and type of work undertaken must be outlined as well as vehicle details. National, International and Regional hauliers can be in contention for this Award. Details of vehicle fl eet should also be outlined together with service and maintenance routine.

Owner-Driver Haulier of the Year

(sponsored by MAN Truck & Bus)

This category is open to operators who transport goods within a specifi c region of Ireland. High levels of customer service together with effi ciency and reliability are key factors here. If a member of a network, please state. Details of types of vehicles as well as service and maintenance routine should be outlined.

Regional Transport Operator

of the Year

(sponsored by Bord Gáis Networks)

Companies entering this category should show evidence that their company embraces safety as a culture and provides the same resources to it as all other activities in the organisation. An active safety management system which includes Hazard Identifi cation and Risk Assessment must be in operation for all the company’s activities. Investment in safety procedures through implementation of staff training or safety items must be outlined.

Safety Award

(Sponsored by Health

& Safety Authority)

The Innovation Category seeks entrants who can demonstrate that their ideas have made a genuine diff erence to their company resulting for example in either profi tability, a new or altered business process within the company or changes in the products and services provided. Companies that have entered new sectors/markets or have introduced a new product should enter this category.

Innovation Award

(Sponsored by FUSO Trucks)

Overseeing the effi cient and safe operation of a fl eet of trucks and their drivers are what the Judges will look for here. Methods of reducing costs as well as knowledge of IT techniques in improving the day to day running of the business must also be detailed. Type of vehicles used and employment responsibilities should also be outlined.

Fleet/Transport Manager

of the Year

(Sponsored by Iveco)

This category is designed to recognise women working in all areas of the transport and haulage industry. If you have achieved success in your area of expertise in the road transport industry, the judges will welcome an entry from you, whatever your position. This category aims to recognise women who are positive role models in the industry to encourage more women to see the haulage industry as a worthwhile career. The judges will look for innovation, enthusiasm and dedication in what is often perceived as an unattractive industry by women.

Women in Transport Award

(Sponsored by Derry Bros

Shipping Ltd.)

This award has proved hugely popular since its introduction in 2009, this award proved hugely popular. All links in this logistics chain must be equally strong to deliver effi ciencies throughout the operation. Companies entering this category should demonstrate how their business has capitalised on the benefi ts of being involved in the Network. Also outline what contribution has been made in building up the success of their own Network.

Pallet Network Member

of the Year

(Sponsored by All-Ireland Warehousing Association)A good corporate image can be achieved through stylish and modern livery on operators’ vehicles. These mobile advertising billboards can impress both the customer and public alike and do a lot to increase levels of professionalism within the company. Not only are clean, eff ective graphics and colour schemes required here but the condition of the vehicle carrying the livery is also up for consideration when the marks are allocated. Detail on how the corporate image supports the business objectives/strategy is also key in this category.

Livery of the Year

(Sponsored by Wright Insurance

Brokers)

Companies will need to demonstrate how they have developed environmental impact assessments and environmental statements to meet planning, transport and other environmental consent requirements. Increases in effi ciencies through reducing empty running, driver training, purchasing of Euro 5/EEV or alternatively powered engines will prove your care of the environment as will recycling/waste disposal regime. Special emphasis will be placed on vehicle telematics, tyre monitoring and maintenance. Companies entering this category could include a successful overall company-wide environmental or sustainability policy, improved recycling of waste material, reduced use of raw materials and other non-renewable resources, reduced noise or cuts in local pollution by reducing non-carbon emissions such as NOx, particulates etc.

Environment Award

(Sponsored by Bridgestone)

AWARDS | 39

www.fl eet.ie

Terms and Conditions:

Any licensed Haulier or Own Account Transport Operator is eligible to enter in the Fleet Transport Awards 2014, established to honour excellence in operation or services to the •

transport industry.

Entries must be received by 28 June 2013 and will not be returned. There is no entry fee.•

All entries will be treated in strict confi dence and are judged by a panel of experts from the industry.•

Confi rmation of receipt of entries will be sent out to all applicants.•

The completed entry form can be accompanied by a 1000 word document outlining further details on your company and its operations. Photographs and customer testimonials •

can be included.

The fi nalists will be published in the September edition of Fleet Transport Magazine.•

Short listed candidates will be called for interviews on Wednesday 4 September and Thursday 5 September. A fi ve minute video or Powerpoint presentation will be welcomed •

on the day of the interview.

Presentation of the Awards will take place on Thursday 10 October 2013 at an Awards Gala Dinner at Citywest Hotel, Dublin.•

The decision of the Adjudication Panel is fi nal and no correspondence will be entered into afterwards.•

Fleet Transport Awards 2014 Irish Haulier of the Year

Entry Form

Name: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Position: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Company Name: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Company Address: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Telephone: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mobile: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Email: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Website: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. of Vehicles: . . . . . . . .

Category Entering - please tick boxes

National Haulier of the Year Environment Award

International Haulier of the Year Customer Service Excellence

Own Account Transport Operator of the Year Women in Transport

Owner Driver Operator of the Year Pallet Network Member of the Year

Regional Transport Operator of the Year Fleet/Transport Manager of the Year

Livery of the Year Technician of the Year

Safety Award Services to the Transport Industry Innovation Award

‘I have read and understood the terms and conditions of entering the Fleet Transport Awards 2014’.

Signature: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Please send completed Entry Form plus additional material by Friday 28 June 2013 to Competition Secretary, Fleet Transport Awards 2014,

D’Alton Street, Claremorris, County Mayo. Alternatively it is much simpler and quicker to enter online at www.fl eet.ie.

Tel: 094 93 72819 Fax: 094 93 73571 Email: awards@fl eet.ie

The ‘Customer Service Excellence’ award recognizes specific accomplishments in customer service, whether they are achievement by an individual, a team, or a department. The Judges will look for evidence of the eff ort and impact of excellent customer service on the customer and business. Training and demonstrable commitment of the company to customer service will be an added bonus in this category. Customer testimonies will also be of benefi t.

Customer Service

Excellence

(Sponsored by

Chartered Institute of

Logistics & Transport)

Entrants in this category, which is open to all Technicians, must have completed an apprenticeship and have a minimum of two years’ experience. Entrants should be fully competent in the servicing and repair of vehicles, to the highest manufacturer standards in the heavy goods, light commercial, service and passenger carrier industries. As well as technical competence in the mechanics of a vehicle, entrants must have a thorough knowledge of the electrical and electronic components of a vehicle and be comfortable with using the latest diagnostic equipment to identify and rectify faults. Judging will be conducted in association with the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) and the Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT).

Technician of the Year

(Sponsor TBC)

Any individual who has made a signifi cant contribution to the transport industry can be nominated in this category. Those who have helped to raise standards or are actively involved in campaigns on behalf of the transport industry will be acknowledged with this award. It is open to nominees of all ages not just those who have completed a life time of service.

Service to the Transport Industry Award

(Sponsored by TBC)


40 | MOTORSPORT

I talians certainly know how to celebrate an occasion as witnessed for the opening rounds of the 2013 FIA European Truck Racing Championships. Misano

World Circuit Marco Simoncelli was buzzing throughout the weekend of 17/19 May as the race trucks, customised trucks and trade

exhibitions drew in the crowds. As the music blasted from the stands, the vehicles, shining in the brilliant sunshine spa rked t he beginning of their summer with this big Truck Racing festival.

2013 marks new beginnings for the 10 round series (reduced from 12 last year), with not only newcomers to the scene, b u t s e r io u s investment made by the teams in introducing new machiner y in order to remain at the top of their game.

Renault Trucks which won the Manufacturer’s

title last year (and in 2010) is going all out to retain this prestigious title as well as a crack at the driver’s overall honours with their brand new race truck. In replacing the successful Premium based racer, Renault Trucks together with their ‘specialist partner’ MKR Technology developed a whole new truck using a new platform from the

soon to be launched heavy duty trucks framework from the French manufacturer. What we saw from the reveal of the two new race trucks in Mizano on the eve of the race weekend gave an indication of some of the styling traits we can expect on the new road going versions created by the Halle du Design Centre in Lyon, France. At that Press Conference att ended by Bruno Brin, recently appointed President of Renault Trucks and Stefano Ciccone, Director General Renault Trucks Italia along with Mario Kress, boss of MKR Technology and his drivers Markus Bosinger and Adam Lacko, Mr. Bruno expressed his delight at being associated with the brand’s involvement in the EU Truck Racing Series (which is now in its 7th year). He said he was excited with the challenges the new season brings especially with the new Premium Race Trucks. “We are aiming to become champions again,” he stated, “through our dedicated people working hard throughout the close season. Truck Racing is high tech, we like it, it is very competitive and brings out the best in our people and products and also helps to improve business,” he added. “We like to win, and the increasing popularity of the series provides us with a fantastic opportunity to get closer to our customers.”

In the four years that Renault Trucks and MKR have worked together, the engine performance from the DXi13 is second-to-none, according to Bruno. Mario Kress and Adam Lacko agreed. “Th is past winter was diffi cult for us,” stated Mario, a veteran in this race category with 10 EU titles to his credit in the past 12 years. “Everything we did with the new truck was top secret. We are pleased with its design, reliability and speed from the tests done so far.” “A bett er truck, with a bett er engine,” is how Adam described the new Renault race truck. Some weight savings have been made to the engine and overall chassis, with components used in the Euro 6 driveline now fi nding their way into the race truck. “Th e outgoing trucks had reached their peak, with no further developments achievable on the 8-year old platform,” explained the Press Offi cer with MKR Technology. “With the new trucks on par with these straight off , there is huge potential for further improvements over the season.”

Due to this ongoing development work over the winter and the serious investment made, Renault Trucks/MKR has entered two race trucks this year, with Markus Oestreich, a popular member of the team’s three-pronged att ack for the past few years, moving to the MAN satellite team Truck Sport Lutz Bernau. Back-to-back Driver’s Champion Jochen Hahn (Castrol Team Hahn Racing) has risen to the challenge with a brand new MAN TGX racer, built from scratch, while Equip Capsa with former champ Antonio Albacete

Renault TrucksRenault Trucks enters FIA Truck enters FIA Truck

Racing Championships with new Racing Championships with new

Premium Premium

Pict

ure:

Tom

Cun

ning

ham

has also upgraded his MAN TG series tractor-unit. With new teams and drivers entering the fray for 2013, it augers well for another high-horsepowered fast forward fun to the fi nish championships for the drivers and spectators alike. Of the 22 offi cial entries for the new season MAN is the most popular choice for the teams with 11 TGS’s on the grid. Renault Trucks has fi ve examples with Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner with two each, while Scania and Iveco are also represented.

A warm dry circuit greeted the drivers for the qualifying sessions on Day 1 with Antonio Albacete recording the fastest lap in the fi rst timed season. Th ird placed Hahn soon made amends outdoing all contenders to take the Superpole position with David Vrsecky (Buggyra Freightliner) 2nd, with Norbert Kiss (Oxxo Energy MAN) 3rd, Albacete 4th, Lacko 5th, Oestreich 6th and Bosinger 8th.

Right from the running start Jochen Hahn stated a claim on the race and was never headed. Behind his gleaming white MAN a series of incidents occurred with some visible damage caused. Jean-Pierre Blaise (Renault), Frankie Vojtisek (MAN) and Ellen Lohr (Mercedes- Benz) were among the retiring casualties. Former DTM touring car racer Lohr is joined this year by another female racer, Stephanie Halm in the Lion Truck Racing MAN. David Vrsecky was happy enough with his inaugural second position for the new campaign with Markus Ostreich promoted to 3rd following a penalty given to Alberto Albacete by the stewards which pushed the Spanish driver to 9th.

For Race 2 around the 12 lap 4.226 km circuit (48.616kms in total), the reverse grid format

continues with the 8th position fi nisher Gerd Korber (Iveco) starting off fi rst alongside Rene Reinert (Mad Croc- MAN) who had a great batt le with Bosinger throughout Race 1. Th is race in brilliant sunshine turned out to be a less torrid aff air with Makinen’s MAN taking charge in the fi rst half with Oestreich in pursuit overtaking Reinert who eventually fi nished 5th. He also had to make way for Hahn and Vrsecky who both added handsomely to their points tally from their success in Race 1. Renault/MKR’s Adam Lacko was not pleased to be black-fl agged for an infringement in turn 1 which knocked the Czech driver off 8th position.

Qualifying on another sundrenched Day 2 had Hahn again topping the 21 truck entry charts with Norbert Kiss a mere 0.112 seconds in arrears. Vrsecky again doing well in 3rd. A mistake by Hahn in the Superpole contest turned the (time) tables pushing the reigning Champion down to 5th in the grid with Albacete ahead and the two MKR Renaults just behind.

Oestreich soon took command showing good progress in the MAN fi rst time out this year. Th e German driver recorded the fastest lap by lap 3 but was soon overtaken by Albacete. Within a few laps the Spaniard was in total control and took the chequered fl ag with ease. Oestreich meanwhile slipped back and had to make a pit stop to get his mechanics tear off a damaged mudguard following a clash.

Kiss and Vrsecky took the other podium positions with Hahn

comfortable in 4th. Lacko and Bosinger were 5th and 6th with Makinen (Hahn’s team-mate for the manufacturers title challenge) and Korber coming home 7th and 8th meaning that they both shared the front of the grid for the fi nal race of the day.

Th e fi nal and fourth race of the fi rst round of the series had Makinen defending his pole position with zest resulting in a start-to-fi nish victory. Lacko crossed the fi nish line in 2nd place with Vrsecky third. Heading into round 2 at Navarra Spain (June 1/2nd), Jochen Hahn leads the fi eld with 46 points with David Vrsecky on 41 and Mika Makinen third in the charts on 32 points. Th e team’s title chase is led by Castrol Team Hahn Racing (83 points) 13 ahead of Truck Sport Lutz Bernau.

The 2013 FIA European Truck Racing Championship started off in a very interesting and entertaining manner enhanced by the fantastic atmosphere created by the Custom Truck Display and the vibrant trade exhibitions of trucks and merchandise.


MOTORSPORT | 41

Spec CheckMake/Model: Renault Trucks Premium Racing

Engine: Renault DXi13 12.8 litre

Power: 1160hp

Torque: 5600Nm @2600 rpm

Top Speed: 160 kph

Team Partners: MKR Technology

Component Suppliers: Meritor, ZF, Luk, Brembo, Jucid

Lacko congratulated by his MKR team engineer


42 | PROFILE

T he car transport sector of Irish transport is highly specialised. It has a small number of dominant operators, has high capital

equipment cost and a market volume that can fl uctuate greatly from year to year. Not to mention the seasonal fl uctuation of New Year sales. Against this industry profi le, Green Tiger Express has operated successfully and this feature outlines how this business achieved these goals.

Grren Tiger Express is unique and successful for many reasons. To understand the business let’s look at the background of the key people in the company, who have been in business together in one form or another since the mid-seventies. Jerry Kiersey and David Delaney own and run the business and Sandra Dennehy heads up administration and is the third element of

senior management. Jerry is probably one of the best known hauliers in Ireland. He set up Bluefl ite in 1973, a national groupage business that developed a brand that included the best provincial carriers long before networks were ever heard of. Bluefl ite commenced with nationwide Toyota parts distribution in 1978, and key staff in Bluefl ite were David and Sandra.

When DFDS purchased Bluefl ite in 1995 Jerry and staff worked for the new entity. Th en Jerry moved to a senior role in a trade organisation. When Toyota approached Jerry in 1999 to form a car transport business specialising in the distribution of Toyota and Lexus brands, it was the basis for new beginnings. It is a testimony to Jerry and David that the team that worked with them in Bluefl ite moved back into key roles in Green Tiger Express.

Th e big question is what makes Green Tiger Express successful these days, in a period of declining car sales. Jerry stated the company’s six key strategic advantages: Th e ability to adapt, the ability to be fl exible, the team of staff and drivers, the core values of the business, its ability to market and sell its services, plus the adoption of new innovations and forward thinking.

While Green Tiger Express operates the Toyota and Lexus car distribution contract in Ireland, it also manages its vehicle distribution compounds and off ers ancillary services to Toyota Ireland. When the recession hit, Green Tiger Express saw opportunities in the transport, storage and handling of vehicles for fi nancial institutions. Green Tiger Express also operates vehicles in the U.K., allowing continuity of employment for drivers and bett er utilisation of assets. Speaking with David Delaney, Operations Director, he said

Green Tiger Green Tiger ExpressExpress

– Leaders in Vehicle Logistics and more!

Transporters are made by Rolfo and Kaessbohrer(Irish and European spec 9 cars) and Transporter Engineering (UK Spec 11 cars)

this element of new business has meant that its core customer - Toyota Ireland – benefi ts, as Green Tiger Express can accommodate the peaks and troughs in vehicle volumes that would otherwise incur additional costs.

Vehicle transportation involves specialist vehicles but also highly trained administration and drivers. Th e distribution drivers load the vehicles from pre-designated loading bays, while the trucks and trailers can carry either nine or eleven vehicles. It is the correct carriage and off -loading of vehicles that are all key elements in eliminating vehicle damage. Driver productivity is monitored based on designated routes and KPIs concentrate on damage free and on-time deliveries.

Over the last three years Green Tiger Express has expanded its fl eet with additional new and pre-used vehicles. With a fl eet of over twenty units the maintenance of the specialised car transport element of the vehicles is done in-house. Th e majority of the standard mechanical work is also done in-house, with a mix of Scania and Volvo brands on the fl eet. For units that are in the U.K. a designated specialist workshop carries out the work there. Th e company purchases a combination of new and pre-owned units when fl eet expansion or replacement is required, due to the long lead

time to acquire new units and the availability of premium used units in the UK from fl eets that Green Tiger Express would be familiar with.

Green Tiger Express’ team spirit and high standards set it apart. To demonstrate this we joined the team for lunch, gourmet food produced in-house and all staff from Managing Director to part time yard assistant met and exchanged banter. Drivers and even suppliers joined in during lunch time break. Th e business uses a specialist accountant not just to scorecard results but to assist in planning for the future, and all staff and suppliers are made feel part of this successful team.

Jerry Kiersey holds high profi le positions in both Irish and International transport associations, he does tremendous charity work and strategically drives the business. David Delaney and Sandra Dennehy operate and administer the operation, with Keith Russell and Th omas Delaney two other key members of the team, leaving the Green Tiger Express business in very safe hands.

We asked the question how does Green Tiger Express maintain the highest standards in customer care and compliance yet be an excellent place to work? Sandra Dennehy, “It’s a pride in

what they do that creates this atmosphere, we show respect to all employees and standards are maintained through continuous training and real team spirit.”

“Every business faces challenges ahead, the fact that Government recognised that haulage has an important role to play in our economic recovery through the creation of an essential user rebate is a signifi cant step forward but further development and education is needed to maintain standards across all sectors of our industry,” she added.

David Delaney outlined that future ideas and developments are always being reviewed and explored. “We pride ourselves on our green credentials having been an early adaptor of bio-fuel technology, our driver training and safety standards are exemplary and we are committ ed to maintaining excellent and sustainable employment.”

It’s fair to say that business matt ers in Green Tiger Express but people matt er most and that’s why the bond between customers, staff , management and suppliers is so successful in this business.

PROFILE | 43

www.fl eet.ie

Among the names given to Green Tiger Express trucks are Irish folk heroes such as Fionn MacCumhaill, Maeve, Macha and Tailte, the three Enterprise steam locos that pulled the Belfast - Cork Express.

FLEETTRANSPORT | JUNE 13 Text: Jonathan Lawton - jonathan@fl eet.ie

44 | LEGAL

U ntil transport operators in the Republic of Ireland have become accustomed to the increased levels of enforcement, which are clearly here to stay, it is inevitable that there will be an increased

number of Court cases and hearings in connection with the licence to operate.

Although some of those cases may well be the result of a driver’s failure to carry out his instructions, the probability is that the operator will also be called to account and a conviction at best may result in a fi ne and, in a ‘worst case’ scenario, might lead to the loss of the licence to operate.

A defence may only be possible if the facts themselves can be challenged: for instance arguing that the damage to a tyre did not amount to a defect, or that movement on a brake pedal was within the manufacture’s limits of tolerance. In cases where the facts cannot be challenged the operator will have to show that he has taken all the steps that are reasonably available to him, and proving that that has been done is a matt er of careful and well directed administration.

All aspects of training, driver qualifi cation, and vehicle maintenance are matt ers of record and the ability of an operator to produce a relevant paper trail will be a critical factor in the event of any hearing whether in connection with a criminal off ence, or with a matt er concerning the Operator’s Licence. An operator must be able to show that he has taken all reasonable steps to prevent the circumstances that led to the off ence.

As a guide only the operator should have the following records:

DriverTh e employee’s application for employment documents.

A copy of the original Driving licence and CPC. [NB. Th e employer • must have seen the originals and there should be a note to that eff ect.]Details of any training courses att ended by the employee whether • ‘in-house’ or external. A record of training in the ‘daily walk round check’ is essential.Copies of any safety instructions or other individual notices issued • by the employer.Copies of any writt en notices confi rming disciplinary action, including • details of any ‘oral warnings’.Records to show that a check has been made to ensure that licences • have been renewed on the due date.

Vehicles(Th ese documents should be available for each individual vehicle)

Copies, or originals, of any document produced when a vehicle is • purchased.Records of all safety checks. Th ese must be complete in terms of • the date order.Each record should show what, if any, remedial work was required • and was carried out.Copies of all defect notices with writt en confi rmation of the date on • which the rectifi cation was carried out.Records of all tyre purchases with copies of tyre safety inspection • sheets.

Some accidents occur because of a failure, or the misuse, of work equipment. A slipping ring spanner, for instance, can result in a painful and serious injury. In the context of work equipment the following records should be kept.

Records of the date and place or purchase.• Records of routine maintenance inspections. (Spanners will slip if • they are worn)A copy of defect notices put in by employees, with confi rmation of • the remedial action taken.Original documentation provided by the manufacturer at the point • of purchase.

All this may seem to be an overwhelming burden, but it has to be balanced against the serious damage to a company that can result from an investigation into the causes of a serious accident with a resulting prosecution, or a hearing to determine if the operator may continue to hold an operator’s licence. Th e reality is that once a system designed to protect these records has been established, maintaining the system should not present a problem.

Defensive Administration

Contact the Transport Help Line Team

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FINANCE | 45

L ast month we looked at profi tability or lack of profi tability in Irish road haulage. Th e conclusion reached was that the industry is highly competitive but that profi tability is possible not simply by hard work and determination but by

a combination of business planning. Th e most successful businesses plan a strategy, they look to see is it both operationally and fi nancially viable and they continuously monitor it. Success is a combination of planning, hard work and att ention to detail. Th e reason planning and monitoring is so important is because hard work and att ention to detail can be equally used in profi table and unprofi table sectors of business, and the ultimate aim in business is not to be the best but to be the most profi table on a sustainable basis.

Combine planning and marketing and you achieve the means by which the business remains in a profi table manner. Marketing gives your company brand awareness. It can make the customer contact you or if you are “cold calling” it means potential customers know of your existence, your services and your standards. Your company logo and website, vehicles’ livery, premises and drivers’ uniform all market the business, but you need to focus directly on the market and your specifi c sector. Marketing is matching best methods and ideas of business promotion with what you want to achieve, which is access to more profi t by bett er rates in what you are currently doing or new work you can potentially do.

Some business owners are successful at marketing because they realise it starts with their standards and networking ability. In other words, the standards in the business and using all employees and suppliers as potential business referrals and their own direct sales and customer care and retention is excellent. Back this up with att ention to detail and good operations ability and you have potential for margin as your customer is buying a brand and a personal purchasing experience as opposed to just commodities from A to B.

Most road transport operators do not realise the importance of marketing and customer contact to the bott om line of their business. Where a business has conveyed the right message to its customers, either directly or

through indirect marketing, rate negotiation meetings are a process of mutual benefi t.

Where a business has a low profi le, no direct or indirect contact with its customers and no diff erentiation of its services from any other haulier, then rate review is more diffi cult because your strategy or service is not unique.

Consult your Accountant on this matt er of strategic planning and marketing as he/she will have trained in this process and applied some or all of the concepts. Remember the most successful strategy is not one that incurs the highest cost but rather the process of improving profi tability by using best methods and ideas to move your business forward.TextDonal Dempsey

Strategic Planning and Marketing

Most road transport operators do not realise the importance of marketing and customer contact to the bottom line of their business.

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46 | COMMENT

9 May was celebrated throughout the EU Member States as “Europe Day”. In Ireland the European Commission and the Irish Exporters Association joined forces to host Breakfast Briefi ngs in Dublin, Cork and Shannon. I was at the Dublin

event hosted at the EU Commission Offi ce in Dawson Street by the EU representative in Ireland, Barbara Nolan and at which the main speakers were Europe Minister Lucinda Creighton T.D. (pictured) and Gay Mitchell, MEP.

W h i l e M s . Cre i g hton s p ok e very enthusiastically about the considerable momentum that the Irish Presidency has been able to bring to a huge range of EU activity, I found Gay Mitchell’s contribution to be absolutely g r ippi ng. A s he warmed to his subject which was to mark the fortieth anniversary of Ireland’s joining the EU, I was hit with, what might be described as a ‘Life of Brian’ moment. You will recall John

Cleese and his “What did the Romans ever do for us?” piece. As he went on and thought about it, he began to list some of the things that the Romans had done - building roads, installing water systems and so on, and slowly it seemed to dawn on him and his followers that being part of the Roman set-up was not all bad.

Gay Mitchell described Ireland before joining the EU, the disastrous state of agriculture and all of those who sought to get a living from the land in an environment in which produce was sold into the British market at impossibly low prices, the low levels of multinational investment in Ireland, the off shore island off another off shore island, the documentation nightmare in trading goods and services and, of course, a terrible road infrastructure and creaking railways; the list goes on.

Agriculture is only one area in which as an EU Member, Ireland has moved into the world’s top league thanks to membership of that group and a sense of solid commitment at all levels in society. You can think of pharma, medical devices, IT, fi nancial services, amongst others but there is another equally interesting EU agenda. Th is is in the whole area of quality of life, working hours, education, reduction of red tape and the protection of the environment.

Part of the latt er area is the reduction of pollution, particularly vehicle related emissions, the moves towards Euro 6 in trucks and buses, electrifi cation of rail networks, converting ships and barges to low carbon fuel, trials of bio fuels in aircraft , etc. Indeed, while I was leaving that EU meeting I picked up a European Investment Bank Newslett er which contained a feature on the establishment last year of an electric car sharing service in Paris. Th e model here is similar to that in use for city bikes, and presently there are 1750 ‘Bluecars’ in use operating from 710 parking and re-charging points. Over 40,000 people have signed up to use the service which reached half a million trips covering over 5 million km by the end of ten months. Initial target is to put 3,000 vehicles into use which would be expected to cover 60 million km a year and taking about 22,000 cars out of the French capital. How good is all of that in establishing the credibility of the electric vehicle?

Even more interesting is the development of ‘Formula E’ motor racing championship. Th ese vehicles will have a top speed of 220 k/ph and go from 0 to 100 k/ph in 3 seconds. Twenty of them will race over city circuits in 2014 and the cars are being developed by a co-operation involving Renault, McLaren, Dallara and Michelin.

Who would ever have imagined that motor racing could be used as the fl ag bearer for Green technology?

Ireland has fl own the European fl ag high

Robin Tottenham receiving his new Volvo FM11 370 6 x 2 Rigid Platform

walking floor from Patrick Murphy of McCarthy Commercials Ltd.

From where I'm sitting - Howard Knott

FLEETTRANSPORT | JUNE 13 Text: Howard Knott - howard@fl eet.ie

OPINION | 47

www.fl eet.ie

EE arlier this year the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) gave details at its Annual General Meeting of the proposed Intern programme to give a career path to those who wish to spend their working life in a transport environment.

Gett ing people into the industry as their fi rst career choice has always been a problem. In the past and particularly in the Celtic Tiger days most drivers migrated from other professions and trades. However, when the economy took off , they found their way back to their original trades and professions. When our economy repairs itself and we start to look for staff , where will we fi nd them? A good question. It must have been an opinion or a feeling in the past that the age profi le of our drivers was on the increase. Now we have proof ……

Any career path created in the road transport industry should be carefully thought out if there is to be any hope of gett ing people to join the profession. It may not be the same situation but if Airlines were to recruit Pilots and train them to be a jack-of-all-trades, loading the aircraft , a bit of repairs, serving food on board, things would end up as a fi asco. We should not fall into that trap. Not only in Ireland but thoughout Europe, Driver CPC has not caught the imagination of the drivers. A qualifi cation such as the CPC is a good concept but it needs to be developed to the point that it is worth having rather than being an administrative requirement. Drivers need to talk up and take some ownership of their trade, the Road Safety Authority cannot do it on its own.

Back to the IRHA and its plans of gett ing a training programme in place. Members need to get involved in putt ing their ideas forward and making candidates available. In the past the Freight Forwarders were very successful in putt ing a training programme together. Many of the senior people working in the Freight Forwarders sector used this particular training as a foundation. Another trade association that has successfully put specifi c training in place is the Chartered Institute of Transport & Logistics (CILT). From humble beginnings with a Certifi cate course in Transport and Logistics it is now possible to get a degree up to Masters level. Many of its members have att ained this qualifi cation over a period of years on a part-time basis.

If the IRHA can get this training off the ground and get Certifi cation from a third level college it would be a big help in professionalising the industry. Business is too precise now to pick it up as you go along. Very few people are born knowing everything, no matt er how good their aptitude is and how much their parents know. Time and money spent on education may not

give you a fast return but it will give a solid and sound foundation. I hope this initiative from the IRHA gets the same eff ort from the Management Team as the Essential Fuel Rebate Scheme and that the members will embrace it. An investment of time and enthusiasm will be necessary from everybody to make this work. Th e payback will be worth it.

Driver Initiative needs Driver Initiative needs to accelerateto accelerate

View from the Operators Desk by Sean Murtagh - sean@fl eet.ie

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48 | FPS NEWSLETTER

A s FPS EXPO 2013 closed its doors to visitors at the Harrogate International Centre, the feedback from exhibitors and visitors was it

was a great success with business being done and increased visitor numbers up 7% on 2012 numbers recorded.

Over 98 exhibitors covering three halls exhibited the latest advances in oil distribution technology and innovation to visitors from UK, Republic of Ireland, Europe, South Africa and Kuwait to name but a few of the countries represented.

The show, organised by the Federation of Petroeum Suppliers, ended with the glitt ering FPS Awards Dinner where New FPS President Mark Nolan of Nolan Fuel Oils addressed a packed audience of industry professionals, and John Bussell of Moorland Fuels won the coveted Driver of the Year Award. Sponsored by FPS Insurance Manager, OAMPS Petrochemical, the Driver of the Year Award is always popular with FPS members and it was a hard fought contest this year with runners up Bob Cook of

GB Oils and Mark Summerfi eld of Heltor Ltd just missing out on 1st prize.

When asked why exhibitors had decided to be at FPS EXPO 2013 one company summed it up: “We are really pleased with the response we get from the show. Not only is it our most important show of the year, we also really enjoy att ending it and catching up with both customers and suppliers, old and new. Th ere was a real buzz about the place this year and that showed in the level of enquiries we received, as well as the general atmosphere we experienced.” Another said: “FPS EXPO is a very focused show, targeted specifi cally to our customer base. Th is is an opportunity to showcase our latest developments to a large audience.” Planning has already begun for the 34th FPS EXPO which will again be held in Harrogate on 9 & 10 April 2014 and already 50% of the stand space has sold with many of the 2013 exhibitors returning.


Oil industry trade association FPS has inaugurated Nolan Fuel Oils Managing Director, Mark Nolan

as its 30th President at the recent trade show FPS EXPO 2013.

FPS Vice President and Regional Representative for East Anglia, London and the South, Mark takes over from Steve Davis of Midland Fuel Oils. Commenting on his appointment, Mark said: “Th e industry is facing some tough times but I will during my time as President ensure that our members are heard at Government level. We will also ensure that the new FPS Code of Practice is implemented. We have worked hard to get this right working alongside consumer groups like Citizens Advice, Consumer Focus and ACRE as well as the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and the fi nished Code of Practice.

“I also think that we must try to improve the image of the industry in order to repair the damage, mostly undeserved, which has been att ached to the sector in recent years.” Th e FPS is in a strong position to continue to represent the industry. It is important that all members of the Federation of the FPS, whether they are large or small companies, feel that the FPS is addressing the issues, which aff ect them, and this will always be a challenge for the future. At local level, all members are given the opportunity to share and contribute to all these relevant issues and I will continue to work closely with all our members both existing and new.”

FPS appoints new President FPS EXPO 2013 –

a great success

Text: Jarlath Sweeney - editor@fl eet.ie www.fl eet.ie

WAREHOUSING | 49

Interest in this year’s Forklift Operator of t he Yea r competition peaked at 302,000 eligible entrants, surpassing

2011’s impressive 250,000 eligible entrants – a sure sign that there is no shortage of UK and Irish operators out there eager to show off their operational skill and commitment to safe practice.

40 qualifi ers who made it through the online theory quiz batt led it out at the IMHX 2013 at the NEC, Birmingham for a place in the Grand Final. Aft er a week of tough competition 10 fi nalists were selected to compete in the Final, held at RTITB’s Telford Headquarters on 20

September. Ireland had two representatives in the Heats - Anthony O’Reilly trained by Daralinn Health & Safety Ltd and employed by Sheehans Cash & Carry and Jan Kontul trained by Safety Lift (Ireland) Limited and employed by Industrial Temps, with Anthony going through to the Grand Final.

While the event produced a lot of enjoyment for those watching, and proved a great platform for the operators to show off their obvious skills, the serious message behind the competition shouldn’t be missed, according to Bianca Prinsloo, Marketing Executive at the RTITB, the event

organisers. “Since the curtain came down on IMHX 2013 at least one fatal fork lift truck accident has made the industry press, and the HSE has successfully prosecuted a number of companies for forklift incidents involving fatalities and injuries that occurred over the last 2-3 years,” she said.

“Th e Operator of the Year competition, established in 2008 and sponsored by TNT Express Services UK & Ireland, Toyota Material Handling UK, and Calor Gas Ltd, has at its heart the promotion of safe and correct forklift operation. It is an opportunity to show how this equipment can be used safely and eff ectively, and how proper training can make

a huge diff erence to the health and safety of employees and the operating costs of a business. For the ten fi nalists it is an opportunity to demonstrate not only their training but also their commitment to safe, effi cient and correct operation,” she added.

“Th e Grand Final takes place on 20 September. Aft er a day of imaginative and challenging contests, the Operator of the Year will be crowned at a Gala Dinner in the evening. Th is year’s winner will drive away a brand new car, while the fi rst runner up will enjoy £2000 of holiday vouchers and the third place fi nalist will win £1000 in

shopping vouchers, concluded Bianca.

UKWA, the United Kingdom Warehousing Association and its Irish affi liate the All-Ireland

Warehousing Association (AIWA)- are pleased to announce that they have adopted Transaid as their offi cial charity.

Transaid works to save lives and reduce poverty for rural communities across Africa by providing them with bett er transport solutions, and UKWA/AIWA have pledged to raise signifi cant funding in support of various key Transaid projects.

A number of money-generating initiatives are planned. For example, UKWA/AIWA hopes to fi eld teams in a number of upcoming Transaid fundraising events - including cycle rides from London to Amsterdam and, for the more adventurous, through the changing terrain of Uganda.

On the announcement made at the recent Multimodal Show at the NEC, Birmingham,

Roger Williams, UKWA’s Chief Executive Offi cer, commented: “Transaid is the logistics industry’s charity and, as such, is perfect for UKWA/AIWA. It has done and continues to do an excellent job in building local skills and knowledge to make transport safer, cheaper, cleaner and more eff ective, ensuring bett er access to the essentials for everyday life across the African continent.”

In addition to fi nancial support UKWA/AIWA will seek to encourage its member companies – who include some of the leading businesses in

the UK and Irish logistics and transport sector - to contribute directly towards Transaid’s work by providing volunteers to take part in technical secondments overseas.

Transaid’s CEO Gary Foster, added: “Transaid is determined to make a signifi cant diff erence in the developing world. We are delighted to see the UKWA/AIWA joining a strong group of our long term supporters who believe in our cause. Th is partnership will help us expand projects which include developing driver training programmes to improve driver competence and road safety, and introducing innovative forms of transport for remote communities where

conventional forms of transport are not available or aff ordable.”

Transaid was founded over 25 years ago by Save the Children and Th e Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport.

Irish Forklift Driver qualifi es for Operator of the Year Grand Final*302,000 eligible entrants, 40 qualifi ers, 10 fi nalists, 1 winner

UKWA/AIWA nominates Transaid as Charity Partner

About RTITBRTITB (formerly the Road Transport Industry Training Board) is the largest lift truck training accrediting body in the UK and Ireland, and leads the largest and most commercially successful Driver CPC periodic training consortium. RTITB has over 40 years’ experience in the road fr eight and logistics sector, and the accrediting body validates and issues over 60,000 lift truck training qualifi cations per year. Th e consortium trains over 40,000 drivers annually, totalling over 700,000 hours of training to date.

FLEETTRANSPORT | JUNE 13 Text: Jerry Kiersey - jerry@fl eet.ie

50 | SOAPBOX

O n entering office in 2011 the President and Management team of the Irish Road Haulage Association created a “Five Point

Plan”. While other issues came and went in between, such as the 46 tonnes requirement farce, the “Plan” was rigidly adhered to. Th at is why the Essential User fuel Rebate will come into force in July and why we have a 4.65m national height limit and that heavy goods vehicles can overtake on motorways.

Th e next two-year term sees an updated Plan:

Marked Gas Oil Registration to End 1. User Pay-as-you-Go Commercial Road Tax (UK 2. and NILRUC 2014)Prevention of Agricultural Tractors & 3. Trailers engaging in Hire & Reward. Driver’s Hours Regulations (on the 4. following issues);

• Rest period while on a ferry • Th irty-minute radius of a Port facility • RSA interpretation of Guidance Note 6

Cabotage5.

Whilst it is easy to focus on these issues on a national level alone there is a serious need to focus on external issues that are already in the melting pot. Th at lack of focus has led to the UK having a diff erent Cabotage interpretation to ours with huge consequences for Irish exports. As the EU comes up with yet more legislation in the form of Directives rather than Regulation (because they are the easy road for the EU bureaucrats to take), we hauliers are left with the mess to pick up. Directives, such as the Working Time Directive, Drivers CPC, Roadside Checks and enhanced testing regimes all allow for national interpretation and the consequences of that are costs that we will all bear.

Taking one issue alone, I am in good company when I criticize the Drivers CPC, as the UK has serious questions over it and as a result drivers there will face major problems in 2014. Th e Drivers CPC framework was directed by the EU with a programme that had to be followed but fl eshed out locally. What was mandatory was the fi ve periods of seven hours of instruction per fi ve years. It is delivered annually in Ireland

and once every fi ve years in the UK. In itself it is nonsense to expect drivers, some of whom have not been in a classroom for forty years to sit and listen for seven hours. It is indicative of the type of thinking that is going into the rules and regulations we have to live by.

I have spoken to the RSA about the Drivers CPC content and the quality of instruction, criticizing both. Th e answer to the content is that the IRHA were invited to participate and did not. Th ere is an acceptance that there is an issue with the quality of instructors (many of which simply see it as an opportunity to make money, not improve road safety) and they are putt ing inspectors in place to monitor what is going on. However, inspectors or not, there is no way the best of instructors can hold drivers' att ention for seven hours. Th e bott om line for me in just this issue alone, that the EU has mandated that I have to take my time and my money to do something that is bordering on the farcical; the EU must have responsibility and be made to answer. Th e EU, it now appears, recognises that there are issues with the Driver CPC and

will be having a review and calling for input from interested parties. Th is time around the IRHA needs to get all its guns lined up, talk to other national associations and discuss what can be agreed as common ground.

To do all of this requires someone’s time, and time is money. All of the issues both in the Five Point Plan and others take money out of our pockets. Th e IRHA cannot continue to survive on the goodwill of volunteers whilst hauliers sit on the side lines. Th at is why we have such a rubbish Drivers CPC, it eff ects us all. So at the very least pay your membership fee even if you cannot give your time.

We are in a Legislative war, we have won some batt les but there are more building up on the not so distant time horizon. Join the IRHA or fi nd your business left to pick up the crumbs left by those who can aff ord to deal with the bureaucracy.

Battles Won, but the War goes on

ClarificationFollowing my piece in the April edition, I believe that I may have inadvertently mis-stated the current legal position on overtaking. Readers will be aware that, on foot of successful representations fr om the IRHA, the Minister for Transport agreed in March 2012 to increase the HGV speed limit on motorways fr om 80 kp/h to 90 kp/h. While HGVs are now allowed legally to drive at up to 90 kp/h on motorways, there has been no change to the restriction on using the right hand lane, except where it is necessary to proceed in that lane due to an obstruction or because another lane or lanes is/are closed to traffi c. JK

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