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You are here : eNews 2010 January to June | eNews 09' Arhcive »

June 2010

Van market forecast increased

The Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders has increased its forecast for 2010 full year van registrations, following a better than anticipated first quarter.

The trade association has hiked its projection by around 15,000 units above the previous quarterly forecast made in January this year (187,600). It now expects the market to total 202,000 units, 8.6% up on 2009, and believes that demand will continue to grow – to 216,000 next year and 234,000 in 2012, reflecting increased confidence and stability, and a sustained level of consumer demand.

SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt said, “Our latest forecasts reflect the better than expected results in the first quarter and improving consumer confidence. The coming months will be challenging, but industry remains cautiously optimistic. Sustaining the economic recovery and improving access to more and better priced finance for businesses and consumers should be the priority for any new government.”

Speed limiters mooted for vans

Vans and light trucks should be fitted with mandatory speed limiters in the European Union to prevent them exceeding 120 km/hour and to improve their fuel efficiency, a new EU report has proposed.

The recommendation comes in a paper setting out the European Parliament's preliminary stance on cutting carbon emissions from vans. Parliament and the EU's 27 member countries will hammer out a final deal in the weeks ahead.

“One ... way to tackle the problem would be to have mandatory speed limiters for light commercial vehicles” – by 2015, says the report. “These vehicles are almost exclusively used for commercial purposes and do not need to exceed 120 km/hour. The technology is available, it is a cheap and effective way of immediately lowering emissions and many commercial organisations retro-fit them to their vehicles."

It suggests no changes to the short-term emissions target of 175g/km CO2, phased in from 2014 to 2016. The longer term 2020 target rises from 135g/km to 150g/km, while the penalty for van makers who exceed the targets drops from €120 to €95 a vehicle.

The committee is due to vote on the report on 28 September 2010. However, the SMMT warned: “Such devices would result in an increase of lane changes for passing such vehicles reduction in traffic flow and increased risk of accidents. Furthermore, no further CO2 reduction can be achieved by mandatory installation of speed limitation devices.”

Support for smarter driving

The Energy Saving Trust’s Smarter Driving programme has been expanded to include commercial vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes.

“Over the last year we’ve had a lot of enquiries from fleet managers about training in vans, but up until now we’ve had to turn people away,” said programme manager Bob Saynor.

The first 10,000 motorists to do the training achieved an average 14.8% cut in fuel consumption between their ‘before’ and ‘after’ driving.

Training costs £15 per person, based on training nine drivers per day, and the Energy Saving Trust provides the van, fuel and insurance as well as an instructor, although it is possible for organisations to use their own vehicles instead.

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter takes top fleet title again

The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter won Best Large Van at the 2010 Fleet World awards, for the third year running.

Van Fleet World editor, John Kendall, said: “The latest Sprinter has a new 2.2-litre common rail diesel with lower emissions and better fuel consumption, while car-like driving characteristics belie the size of the larger models. Not surprisingly, they have become firm fleet favourites.”

Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz Vans will be socially-networking, tweeting and blogging with biking and football enthusiasts this summer to highlight the athletic attributes of the Vito Sport and Sprinter vans.

The Vito Sport is sponsoring two key events in the biking calendar, the MTB Series and the Animal Relentless Bike Tour. Mountain bikers can keep up to date with the latest news on Facebook: www.facebook.com/vitosport, or Twitter: www.twitter.com/thevitosport, or at www.biker.vitosport.co.uk.

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter takes top fleet title again

The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter won Best Large Van at the 2010 Fleet World awards, for the third year running.

Van Fleet World editor, John Kendall, said: “The latest Sprinter has a new 2.2-litre common rail diesel with lower emissions and better fuel consumption, while car-like driving characteristics belie the size of the larger models. Not surprisingly, they have become firm fleet favourites.”

Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz Vans will be socially-networking, tweeting and blogging with biking and football enthusiasts this summer to highlight the athletic attributes of the Vito Sport and Sprinter vans.

The Vito Sport is sponsoring two key events in the biking calendar, the MTB Series and the Animal Relentless Bike Tour. Mountain bikers can keep up to date with the latest news on Facebook: www.facebook.com/vitosport, or Twitter: www.twitter.com/thevitosport, or at www.biker.vitosport.co.uk.

And, as World Cup fever builds, football fans will be able to tune into talkSPORT’s radio coverage, find out how celebrity and sporting guests perform at a weekly Sprinter Van ‘keepy uppy’ challenge, and have a go themselves online at www.madeforthepeople.com - with the chance to win a £50 voucher and a mini football table.

May 2010

FTA (Freight Transport Association) draws up van industry code

With the backing of some of the UK’s largest van fleet operators, the Freight Transport Association is looking to establish a code of conduct that will benefit businesses, the environment and all road users.

Richard White, the FTA’s van project leader, said: “Businesses and consumers rely heavily on the van industry, which already boasts many shining examples of well-honed working practices. Using that knowledge and having formalised an agreed code of conduct, it is now a question of getting accord from all van operators, large and small.”

The Van Excellence Code, which has been developed by the van industry for the van industry, looks to share and formalise working practices that are already used by leading companies in the sector. It aims to provide parameters for all aspects of van operations, including driver behaviour, vehicle safety/maintenance and risk assessed operating methods.

Signatories to the Code will follow tried and tested operating procedures to improve safety levels, reduce environmental impact and promote professionalism.

Richard White added: “The Van Excellence Code work and it will provide those inside and outside the sector with a clear set of standards by which they should expect all vans to be operated. By seizing this initiative the sector can help to forge a greener, safer and more professional future.”

MoT shake-up for large van sector?

The Retail Motor Industry Federation is launching a campaign to reduce the first MoT test date for large vans from three years to a year following claims that every other white van in this class tested over the age of three years is unroadworthy.

The RMI said its MoT members were frequently seeing vans coming in for their first MoT with 200,000 miles on the clock, with some having done up to 300,000 miles. It reports continually rising failure rates with the latest results from VOSA revealing that on average 45.6% of Class VII vans fail their MoT. The two main defects causing them to fail are lights (43% of all test failures) and brakes (41%).

John Ball, the chairman of RMI MOT, said: “The Government needs to act on safety grounds as the current regulations are out of date. With new data available for the first time, showing that two thirds of the highest failing vehicles at first MoT tests are vans, RMI MoT believes there is a strong case for testing Class VII vehicles at year one not three.

“Testing annually from new would ensure these large vehicles better meet ongoing legal safety requirements while ensuring maintenance regimes are better adhered to. Annual testing from year one would bring them in line with similar vans over 3,500kg, minibuses, ambulances and taxis.”

The campaign is being supported by Brake, whose campaigns officer Ellen Booth said: “It makes no sense to exclude white vans from safety regulations brought in for other types of commercial vehicles. It means that unscrupulous businesses can scrimp on maintenance costs at the expense of public safety.”

How to check your tyre pressures correctly

More than a third of car and van drivers are needlessly increasing their fuel bills and taking extra safety risks by failing to keep their tyres properly inflated. That’s according to Tyresafe, the tyre safety body, which reckons that £700 million of fuel a year is wasted as a result of under-inflation.

“The recent rises in fuel prices are hitting drivers hard, yet many are failing to make one very simple check that could save them hundreds of pounds over the year,” comments Stuart Jackson, the TyreSafe chairman.

When tyres run under-inflated, their rolling resistance – the force that is needed to make them turn – increases. This means the engine has to work harder and more fuel is used, making the vehicle less economical. Calculations from a TyreSafe member show that when tyres are under-inflated by just 20% (around 6psi), 3% more fuel is used.

As well as the extra running costs, vehicle safety is also compromised. Tyres run in this state are much more likely to suffer a blow-out, typically on motorways at high speeds, as excessive heat builds up within the tyre. Handling and grip are also affected.

1. Check your tyres at least once a month.
2. Tyre pressures should be checked against the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended level, which can be found in the vehicle handbook.
3. Check the pressure when your tyres are cold (ie, when you have travelled less than two miles).
4. If you are carrying a full load, or will be towing a trailer, tyre pressure should be increased in line with the manufacturer’s recommendations.
5. Make sure the gauge you are using is reliable and accurate.
6. Check the pressure in all four tyres and the spare.
7. When checking pressures, visually inspect the rest of the tyre as well. Remove any stone or other objects embedded in the tread. Look out for bulges, lumps or cuts.

If you’re unsure about any aspect of tyre pressure or tyre condition, give your local van centre a ring for advice, or visit www.tyresafe.org. (opens in new window)

Five top tips to prepare your van for summer

After a long winter of wear and tear through snow, salt and potholes – and now volcanic dust – your van will be in need of a little TLC. Being prepared for the summer and making checks now can save you money in the long run.

The Institute of Advanced Motorists has issued some practical advice for drivers on how to prime their vehicles properly for the warmer weather:

1. Now is a good time to treat your vehicle to a spring clean. Salt is a corrosive and will cause rusting if left on the bodywork. If possible, take it to a car wash that specialises in under-car cleaning to get rid of every trace.
2. The UK pollen season starts around now and can be pretty miserable for hay fever sufferers, so replacing your pollen filter annually is a vital investment.
3. Keeping your air-con, if you have it, well maintained helps too – and getting it serviced will help your van smell better. If it smells stale when you turn the heating on, it could well be a sign that mould is building up in your condenser.
4. Flies will soon be out in force, so be sure to refill your washer fluid. Habitually washing the windscreen and headlamps when you stop for fuel is also important, as wipers won’t get rid of all the fly debris.
5. Old wiper blades are not only deafening, they can leave marks on the windscreen so remember to replace them regularly. After the dust that has fallen from the volcanic ash cloud, it is particularly important that you clean them regularly to avoid damaging your windscreen.

The IAM stresses that certain checks should be made regardless of the season: “Try to deal with any minor problems and repairs as they happen, as they can become very expensive if left to build up over time,” the IAM’s chief examiner Peter Rodger said.

Mercedes-Benz to attend more shows

Mercedes-Benz has announced its intent to exhibit at the planned Commercial Vehicle Show next year, with all of its divisions represented, at the NEC from 12-14 April.

Ian Jones, the MD of Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicles said: “If the CV Show returns in 2011, so will we, with a full range of products and services.”

It is the latest exhibition attendance announced by Mercedes-Benz UK, and is part of an ongoing commitment to meeting its customers and contacts around the UK – including Van Experience, a two-week ride-and-drive event in Kenilworth, Warwickshire, from 14-25 June, where guests drive Mercedes-Benz Vans in a range of challenging conditions designed to highlight the safety systems fitted as standard to every vehicle.

Major awards for Mercedes-Benz vans

Mercedes-Benz’ Sprinter and Vito vans have won major European awards in the Courier, Express and Parcel Services’ Van of the Year 2010 competition held in Germany, taking first place in the 3.5-tonne and 3.0-tonne van categories respectively.

A natural gas-powered Sprinter, designed for urban environments and producing significantly lower exhaust gas and noise emission figures, won the Alternative Drive Systems category.

The awards were made by a jury of 30 experts from the courier, express and parcel services sector who evaluated 18 participating vehicles before picking the winners in five categories.

The examiners covered over 7,000 kilometres in the course of 540 test drives. Functionality, driving comfort, handling characteristics, design and economic efficiency were among the points covered in the evaluation.

April 2010

Key points from the Budget for van users

The Chancellor announced changes to fuel prices, vehicle excise duty, electric vans and other measures in the Budget.

Instead of the expected 3p/litre increase in April, it was announced that fuel duty would rise by a penny in April, a further penny in October and 0.76p in January.

However, what the Chancellor failed to mention in his speech was that the duty incentive provided to oil refiners for biofuels production would end on April 1, which means a further rise in the cost of fuel. The Petrol Retailers’ Association said it would result in “an increase to the cost of product by up to 1p/litre from April 1. Thus the real increase to the motorist at the pumps right now equates to around 2.35p/litre – some 135% more than might have been perceived from his speech to the House.”

VED for LGVs registered before March 1 2001

VED for LGVs registered on or after March 1 2001

*discount applies to Euro 4 compliant vans registered between March 1, 2003 and December 31, 2006, and Euro 5 compliant vans registered between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2010.

Employees receiving company-funded fuel for private use will see their benefit-in-kind tax bills rise, as the van fuel benefit charge (on which tax on ‘free’ van fuel is paid) has increased from £500 to £550.

As of April 6, all electric vans are exempt from company car tax and the van benefit charge for five years. A 100% first-year allowance has been introduced for the purchase of electric vans.

The Chancellor is also providing an additional £84/100 million to fund repairs for local roads damaged by the recent adverse weather, and £250/285 million for improvements in the motorway network – including the expansion of capacity by allowing hard shoulder running.

New LCV report points way to recovery

Cost issues may change the landscape for van operators in the future – particularly against a background of recovery from recession, according to a new report just published by BCA.

Professor Peter Cooke suggests in the study that if changing business needs require a ‘just in time’ approach to LCV fleet management, some fleets may change from a wholly-owned, or wholly leased, strategy to a more flexible small core fleet (owned or leased) which is added to through short-term rental as needed.

He comments: “There are potential implications for cost savings right across the organisation – release capital, fewer units to manage, greater utilisation of the fleet and a more flexible fleet capacity to better balance supply and demand.”

Undoubtedly, fleet management is becoming more sophisticated. Cooke argues that in future “managing a fleet will become more demanding and more professional”, and concludes: “Throughout the period of economic recovery, the role of the fleet executive in managing LCV acquisition, operation and disposal is likely to become more important than it has been in the past.”

Significance of issues influencing fleet decisions

The report highlights the potential for changing business practices within the LCV fleet sector and the importance of total management control through the acquisition, use and remarketing of LCVs.

Used van prices rise again

Manheim Remarketing’s latest monthly market analysis for vans reports that, at £4.013, average wholesale used van prices rose by 4.4% (£169) in January compared with December 2009.

Average values have now increased in all but two of the last 13 months. Compared with February 2009, average wholesale used van prices are actually up by 49.5% (£1,329).

Examples of the increases in average month-on-month values in February include:

The report highlights the potential for changing business practices within the LCV fleet sector and the importance of total management control through the acquisition, use and remarketing of LCVs.

1. Car-derived vans up by 9% (£241 to £2,919)
2. Small panel vans up by 6.8% (£289 to £4,513)
3. Large panel vans under 3 tonnes up by 5.5% (£198 to £3,775)
4. Large panel vans over 3 tonnes up by 1.5% (£61 to £4,130)

At 54 months, average age in February was down by one month compared with January, while average mileage was also lower by 128 miles at 73,896.

Alex Wright, the company’s sales director for commercial vehicles, said: “The continued increase in wholesale values has certainly lasted longer than expected – a clear indication of strong demand and a relative lack of supply, of young, low-mileage vans especially.

“These vehicles will remain highly sought after, as extended lead times for delivery of new vans will drive many self-employed new van buyers into the nearly-new arena.

“In addition, the decision by many fleets to defer replacement vehicle orders means that supply is likely to remain short until Q3. No doubt the strength and resilience of the wholesale van market will continue to drive demand, so I remain positive and upbeat about the wholesale market as the country embarks on slow and steady economic growth.”

Free safety guide for fleet managers

Road safety charity Brake has published a free resource specifically targeted at fleet managers, to help them improve safety for company drivers.

The online guidance explains the Pledge2DriveSafely campaign, giving practical advice and examples of how managers can use it to influence driver behaviour. This guidance document explains the aims and methodology of the campaign, with the objective of helping them to implement it within their own businesses.

You can download the PDF document file here Download (3.65 Mb)

or visit http://www.brake.org.uk/facts (opens in new window)

March 2010

Best Practice launch at CV Operator Show

The Government is to launch two new guides in its Van Best Practice programme at the CV Operator Show, which takes place at the NEC, Birmingham, from 13 - 15 April.

One guide is called Safe Vans and provides easy to understand guidance for operators to incorporate safer, more efficient practices into their operations. The other is a Driver Essentials Pack – a set of hand-sized cards providing tips and information on topics such as vehicle security, loading/unloading, driver hours and vehicle checks. They are essential in-van reference tool for both sole traders and drivers.

They join the two guides that are already available – Efficient Vans and the Fuel Management Pack. These also offer practical tips and advice for fleet managers and van drivers, and are available online at http://vanbestpractice.businesslink.gov.uk/cms/guides (opens in new window)

Drivers ‘unaware’ of ten-year licence rule

Company car and van drivers appear to be unaware of the fact that their photocard driving licence must be renewed every ten years, according to research from a leading fleet software company.

The company, CFC Solutions, says that because the photocard was introduced in 1998, early adopters need to be aware now of this fact - but that most identified by CFC’s Licence Link checking software did not know they needed to reapply.

While drivers can legally continue to drive when their photocard has expired, they face a potential charge of failing to renew their licence which can lead to a £1,000 fine.

Neville Briggs, the managing director of CFC, said: “Because of the driver’s photo on the card, there is a 10 year limit to the licence to take account of aging and other physical changes but many drivers and fleet managers are unaware. The DVLA does issue reminders to drivers that their licence will soon need renewing but if the individual has moved address or simply ignored the reminder, which in our experience is common, there could be a problem.”

Van speed limits set to be simplified

The Department for Transport is proposing to simplify the speed limits for heavy goods vehicles, including vans over 3.5 tonnes.

The proposals include:

1. Setting the motorway speed limit at 60mph for all HGVs over 3.5 tonnes
2. Prohibiting all HGVs between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes from using the right hand lane of motorways with three or more lanes.

The DfT says change is needed because new vehicles are fitted with speed limiters, while older vehicles are not. While newer HGVs are limited to 56mph, older vehicles can drive up to 70 mph on motorways.

This can cause confusion for other drivers and creates a disincentive for companies to invest in safer, more fuel-efficient vehicles. In addition, vehicles with speed limiters are banned from the right hand lane of three-lane motorways whereas those without speed limiters currently are not.

Battery-powered Vito for zero emissions

Mercedes-Benz has unveiled the prototype of a battery-powered van based on the Vito which is due to enter production this year.

More than 100 Vito vans will be delivered to 20 customers, primarily fleet operators and public institutions wishing to transport items in environmentally-sensitive zones with zero emissions and low noise – typically involving short distances and making many stops in urban areas. Production of a further 2000 vehicles is planned in the next phase.

The drive configuration is designed solely to run on lithium-ion battery power and thus dispenses with the powertrain intended for combustion engines.

The Vito's range averages 130 kilometres, while the top speed is 80 kms/hr. There is no loss in terms of payload or load volume compared to a conventionally powered Vito and load capacity remains competitive.

February 2010

New record for used van prices

December 2009 displaced November’s place in the record books to deliver a new high for average LCV values as buyers continued to compete strongly for stock right through to the year end, according to BCA.

Another £100 plus was added to average van prices over the month, and the £4,000 watershed was breached for the first time on record. Values increased by 2.7%, from £3,902 to £4,008, to establish a new high point for LCVs. Over the full year, average values increased by 37% from just under £3,000 – a sign of both how strong the demand was in 2009, and how far prices had collapsed over the previous year.

Despite the average price increase, performance against CAP fell for the third straight month, settling at 95.21% and representing another three points off last months average. Overall CAP performance has fallen by nearly 10 points since September.

Duncan Ward, BCA’s General Manager Commercial Vehicles, commented: “End users remained very active in the marketplace, and delivery firms expanding capacity in advance of Christmas no doubt buoyed the average price during December.

“The outlook will remain good for the first quarter while supply and demand are so well balanced, but condition remains critical and any vehicle that is carrying excessive damage – cosmetic or otherwise – is likely to struggle for attention. Good, clean vehicles should meet market price expectations and more.”

Extra benefits of cold weather tyres

Drivers who took the precaution of fitting cold weather tyres to their vehicle last autumn will continue to benefit from safer driving long after the snow falls melt away.

With more natural rubber in the tyre tread compound than standard ‘summer tyres’, they provide significantly shorter stopping distances in cold, wet and icy conditions.

“There is a misconception that cold weather tyres are not appropriate for drivers in the UK,” explained Stuart Jackson, the chairman of TyreSafe. “However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Cold weather tyres provide much better grip in both wet and dry conditions when the temperature falls below seven degrees, so they offer extra safety typically from October through to March. These tyres also have different tread patterns from ‘summer’ tyres making them more able to cope with snowy conditions.”

Intensive testing undertaken by the Continental Tyre Group has shown that a vans braking distance when travelling at 30mph in icy conditions increases by up to 31%. The average extra distance a van will travel when braking on standard tyres versus cold weather tyres is 13 metres while a car-derived van will travel a further 8m – an increase of 23%.

Idling the engine is costing you money

Less than 5% of drivers switch off their engine in a rush hour standstill. But according to Trimble, a mobile resource management company, if more drivers got into this simple habit they would save money on fuel – while reducing their impact on the environment as well.

“If a driver is parked at the side of the road to complete paperwork, to make a call or even to make a delivery which lasts more than ten seconds, the engine should be switched off,” said Andrew Yeoman, the MD of Trimble MRM. “Idling the engine for more than ten seconds uses up more fuel than switching off and restarting again.”

For every two minutes the engine is idling, enough fuel is wasted to have driven one mile.

“Road transport is the third largest source of UK greenhouse gases and accounts for more than 20% of total emissions,” he added. “It is easy to leave the engine running while taking care of other things, but the vehicle is being ineffective and burning excessive fuel.

“Businesses need to be aware that even small changes in their drivers’ behaviour can impact the environment significantly. By identifying where fuel wastage is occurring and stopping it, they can do their bit for climate change.”

Avoid getting stuck in the traffic – for free

Van drivers who use either an Apple iPhone or Google Android phone can now make use of a free traffic information programme from the RAC.

The new mobile phone application – the RAC’s first shows the start and end points of congestion, overlayed onto Google Maps. It utilises up-to-the-minute traffic updates from Trafficlink, which provides real-time traffic information, and pinpoints your exact location – meaning an immediate view of regional traffic is easily at hand.

This level of detail gives the most precise and accurate view of live traffic conditions on the UK’s roads that is currently available on a mobile phone application, the RAC claims.

Text and audio summaries of traffic conditions are also available, and the app is free to download, at the iTunes App Store and Android Market.