According to the RHA Cost Movement Survey of 2009, there has been a major increase in costs in many sectors.

They said that, overheads costs are one of the factors which have been overlooked by the companies that run transport vehicles. The cost centre as opposed to profit centre rose to 8.1% when administration costs were included in the figures. This is because of the ever growing demand in the sector of health and safety.

They also stated that, insurance costs have risen by 10% along with employment costs which has increased by 2.2%.

Even HGV / LGV training costs have increased due to the driver CPC Regulation that came into action in September, 2009. Moreover, even costs in sectors like maintenance and tyres have seen rises in the price.

Policy Jack Semple, the Director of RHA said that, the survey showed the costs increase in almost all the sectors of transportation.

He further stated that, they have excluded the costs of fuel once again, as unlike other sectors of the haulage industry, this area changes every week. In addition to this, he also said that they still recommend that the companies should have a mechanism to adjust their rates.

The Freight Transport Association (FTA), in its pre-Budget report submission to the government, states that HGVs / LGVs which achieve the smallest carbon dioxide emissions should pay a smaller amount of fuel duty.

Both the Road Haulage Association (RHA) and the Freight Transport Association (FTA) issued its wishlist for the pre-Budget report in the last few days. They also stressed the importance of keeping fuel prices as low as possible for the haulage industry. Both associations specifically asked the government to discard its plans for a rise in fuel duty which is intended for April 2010.

In broader terms, both FTA and RHA are highly critical of the government’s present approach to fuel duty which is higher in the UK compared to any other European country. The RHA said that a typical 44-tonne truck presently pays above £24,000 in fuel duty in a year, which is up by £2,500 compared to what was a year ago. It also said that since November the duty hikes have added £500 more to the annual figure.

Both associations also dispute that the competition from overseas operators should also be regulated, so that European LGVs / HGVs do not carry on having an unfair advantage.

The FTA has recently joined the RHA to request the government to discard its intended above-inflation rise in fuel duty in its submission prior to the pre-Budget statement. Simon Chapman, the chief economist for the FTA, dismisses the government’s planning for the fuel duty escalator as “green tax”, saying that it is nothing more than just a “revenue raising tool” in a region with “comparatively inelastic demand”.

The FTA said that since 1993, the fuel duty has increased to 56.2p/litre, which is 21p more than it would have been increased at the same rate as that of the inflation. Given the progressing recession, halting the escalator could now be imperative for the survival of some companies.

The FTA submission said that the government imposes fuel duty rise with negligible regards to the impact it will create on the economic viability of the freight sector. It also believes that increasing fuel duty does nothing to motivate fuel-efficient practices.

As an alternative, the FTA wants the Treasury to open negotiations on decoupling business from fuel duty rises related to incentives based on reductions in the CO2 emission. The FTA also said with the expected growth in economy soon, the freight activity will also increase. Government can also make effective use of fuel duty as CO2 abatement lever, by decoupling the duty of motorists from the ones that is used by businesses.

Today saw the removal of the first ‘bendy-buses’ from London’s streets. Buses on the 38 route from Hackney to Victoria were replaced with traditional double-deckers.

A recent survey put the bendy-buses (introduced by former Mayor Ken Livingstone) at the top of the list for causing ‘traffic chaos’ in the city. The 25m long buses often got stuck turning corners and had huge problem with fare dodgers. Some buses ran ‘completely for free’ - whereby not one passenger would pay or swipe their Oyster card.

Their design has been blamed for numerous accidents and deaths on Londons roads and cyclists are overjoyed at their removal.

Mean while, HGV’s and LGV’s were not seen to be creating traffic problems in the city. Too many buses and empty bus lanes were considered more of a problem on London’s streets.

Although the Government has already awarded more than £6 million to the operator of the Humber Bridge, the toll charges at this bridge will not be increased for at least another 18 months.

Sadiq Khan, the transport minister, said that this money will help the board of Humber Bridge to install a dehumidification system which will prevent corrosion of the suspension cables on the bridge.

For the past three years, the charges to use the bridge have been frozen, with the toll fees for two, three and four axel heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) being set at £10.90, £14.60 and £18.30 respectively.
With the extra funds provided by the government, the Humber Bridge board can continue to meet the repayments on the bridge’s £330m debt.

Ian Gallagher, the policy manager of the Freight Transport Association for Wales, said that the members want the Government to provide financial contributions for the Severn Crossing.

Gallagher also mentioned that most of the companies across the Anglo-Welsh border are racking up tens of thousands of pounds each year in tolls. As the recession is not discriminating by region, so neither should the Government do any discrimination. Currently all the HGVs have to pay £16.30 to cross the Severn.

The majority of people find themselves in the dilemma of understanding the concept of HGV training when they opt for a career in the HGV/LGV industry. The HGV training for its certification basically lasts for two to four days, depending upon the driving experience of the candidate and the type of HGV/LGV licence they want to obtain.

Aspects of HGV training
The major aspects covered in the HGV driver training courses include driving skills, basic mechanics, and loading and securing goods. All HGV training candidates are provided with special training on driving HGV/LGV vehicles detailing a varied range of concepts related to the vehicle. HGV training instructors usually apply a ‘show me’ concept for training the candidates wherein how to check the level of engine oil, what is the location of the fire extinguishers and the first aid kit, identifying the driving status of the truck, and other relevant questions are being taught upon.

The essential aspect of safety in HGV driver training
Safety is considered to be the vital facet of HGV training courses so that the chances of frequent accidents can be at least minimised to an extent if not totally eliminated. An HGV driver training certification proves that the candidate is well equipped with a road safety knowledge of driving an HGV vehicle, since the course itself involves different kinds of practical. The instructors taking the HGV training classes are themselves vastly experienced in this field and are well acquainted with road safety instructions for driving HGVs. Besides, they also go beyond lengthy discussions by having one on one teaching sessions to ensure all candidates successfully attain HGV training certification.

As the HGV manufacturing industry battens down the hatches, ready for a rough ride in 2009, the world’s largest supplier of HGVs, Daimler, is more than confident that the Mercedes-Benz brand is well placed to survive the downturn. Nevertheless, despite numerous reports that the group’s luxury car division is facing the possibility of severe job cuts and working time reductions, Dr Joerg Zürn, Chief of HGV Engineering, believes that the HGV side is able to weather a 30% fluctuation in demand, with absolutely no layoff of permanent staff. Therefore, the expected major decline in HGV sales in both Europe and North America, caused by the current financial situation, will be countered by a sharp rise in demand from the so-called BRIC markets, i.e. the markets in Brazil, Russia, India and China.

Apart from all that, Daimler’s North American operation is facing a restructuring that could see the production of some Western Star and Freightliner models moving to Mexico, and so, with the Sterling brand being killed off completely. Nonetheless, Dr Joerg Zürn sees the downturn as simply a temporary blip, before complete recovery in 2010. Firmly believing that the downturn should not be regarded as something that is highly severe and even unmanageable, Zürn says: “HGVs will remain the backbone of the global economy”.

Recent studies have shown that oil additive can undoubtedly boost UK’s fuel economy. For instance, a HGV has recorded a 10.8% improvement in fuel economy after using a new engine oil additive. Moreover, as part of a recent survey conducted at the Warwickshire Test Track (MIRA), the BORPower product (from Nano Boron) was added to the three-axle ERF EC6, which had just recently passed its MOT.

Respected Transport engineer Roger Denniss supervised the test himself. It seems that the vehicle was first inspected for defects, and then, a load of more than 9 tonnes was secured to the flatbed. Having gone through these procedures, with only regular oil in the engine, a professional (HGV) test driver drove the HGV through a standard track test cycle.

Nonetheless, this involved high-speed track trials, simulating highway driving, as well as stop-and-go trials simulating city driving. However, the BORPower oil additive was then added to the engine, and so, the vehicle was allowed to run commercially for five days, all in order to make sure that the engine components were effectively coated. Nevertheless, a second test, almost identical to the first one, was also carried out successfully. In conclusion, the BORPower oil additive can therefore be used in all four-stroke engines, regardless of whether they run on LPG, petrol, or perhaps, even diesel. Basically, the BORPower contains all the active ingredients: Boron Diamond Powder (MCDP), as well as Nano Boron.

The best thing about HGV driver jobs is that there are lots of them. The HGV industry is certainly going places; unless a railroad track is built in the exact place of every single highway in the UK, HGV driver jobs are here to stay. In fact, there are great career HGV driving opportunities to choose from, and as soon as you sign up for an HGV training course, you can start driving and start earning.

In other words, if you happen to be in the market for a career change, then you might want to give HGV training some serious thought and consideration. Like any other job market, there are various levels of jobs available. The truth is that you can make lots of money by being a HGV driver, and yet, it does not necessarily have to be a lifestyle.

You can make more money than many of your friends, and you can still enjoy all the freedom and flexibility that a HGV driving job has to offer. HGV drivers do not have to “live” in a HGV, or even be far away from home.

If you do decide it is something that you want to look into, then be sure to use a reputable HGV training company.

It was recently announced that UK hauliers will not be obliged to pay the Manchester C-charge while a study into its impact on freight is carried out.

The concession itself, which will probably last twelve months, came about after feedback from the industry during the consultation process and pressure from the Road Haulage Association (RHA). Geoff Dunning, Northern Director at the RHA, has been working with the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) – and Dunning managed to get an agreement that HGVs are not the same as cars. In addition to this, Dunning says:

“At the outset, we were told that cars and HGVs are all traffic and would therefore be treated the same. Getting Manchester to recognise that HGVs are different and thus react to different issues is definitely a positive step.”

Last week, AGMA decided to defer payment for HGVs for the first year of the scheme, but only if it gets the go-ahead following a referendum next month. James Wilkinson, Managing Director at Austin Wilkinson & Sons, says:

“HGVs, not only in Greater Manchester – but practically all over the country, should indeed be supported to promote a reduction of general inflation, whereas another tax, no matter how it is imposed, only puts up the price of goods for the consumer.”

Moreover, Mike Lyons, Group Finance Director at AK Worthington, adds:

“AGMA had previously said that the reduced congestion would improve our journey times by 30-40%, but there is no evidence of that.”

The European Parliament has called upon the European Commission to swiftly propose reforms to the European Union’s (EU) working time directive so that self-employed drivers, including HGV drivers, are in fact included from March 2009.

In a detailed motion, MEPs claimed that the existing exemption from the rules for self-employed drivers such as HGV drivers was being commonly abused. They noted

“the importance of addressing the industry malpractice of classifying many employees falsely as self-employed drivers”

The parliament claimed there was a

“general view within the transport sector that self-employed drivers should be included”

within EU working time legislation. And it added that under the existing system “it would be extremely difficult from a legal point of view to identify and pursue “bogus” self-employed workers, not to mention the practical and bureaucratic difficulties (required) to prevent this concept from being widely exploited to evade the restrictions on working days.”

As a result, the motion recommended that the directive’s

“scope is extended to include self-employed workers”

by March 23 next year - an ambitious target given the EU’s generally slow decision making.

Green Party MEP Mary Lou McDonald said:

“Compliance with rules for driving, working time and rest periods are basic requirements for ensuring road safety and the health and safety of drivers and passengers.”

Certain online HGV auctions are supposedly expected not to do so well during an economic downturn. However, instead of taking the time out of the office to go to an auction, Manheim finds that buyers should indeed follow the proceedings online. Group commercial vehicle manager James Davies reveals that Manheim is extending its online HGV auctions from Leeds to entail its Gloucester site. To this he adds:

“We have had calls from numerous customers asking WHEN they will finally be able to follow the Online HGV Auctions at our other sites.”

Furthermore, Davies points out that Manheim is expected to sell 100 – 160 HGVs via these particular online HGV auctions this year. He says:

“When you compare this to the 2, 600 vans that we hope to sell at the Online HGV Auctions this year, it certainly does not seem very much. In fact, we have been selling the vans online for much longer and last year we only sold 816.”

Attempting to continue the overall growth, Manheim is now urging customers to provide reports and pictures with the HGVs they are selling at these online HGV auctions.

“Apart from all that, we are also looking to provide inspections on behalf of buyers. Thus, we are looking at whether we can extend these Online HGV Auctions to include markets such as plant equipment or perhaps something that is similar to this.” Davies says.

Pawson Transport, the new entity set up by four directors of the haulier E Pawson & Son, has been granted a new operator’s licence.

At a Castleford public inquiry, the North Eastern Traffic Commissioner Tom Macartney said that even though it would be an unpopular decision, he was going to grant the application for 10 vehicles and 50 trailers.

Concerns had been raised by dealer Keltruck over the sale of numerous HGV vehicles and trailers by the former firm, just when finance was still outstanding on them.

Macartney said he was sympathetic with the problems that E Pawson suffered and added:

“Those that are before me have indeed acted properly and did all that seemed sensible at the time (to check the status of vehicles).”

Apart from that, Macartney also believes that it will be a new and fresh start for the family business. Moreover, he added:

“I will grant the application in full so the company as a family business can go forward and hopefully learn from the lessons of the past and put those problems behind them.”

Rachel Slade, the director of Pawson Transport, said:

“I am just so pleased things have worked out. But we’re going to need 100’s of more HGV drivers - so get training’.

Boots UK is looking for firms to collaborate with as it prepares to close its 17 regional distribution centres (RDCs) and replace them with cross-dock centres next year, which will affect their HGV drivers. Phil Hull, the director of retail logistics operations at the health and beauty retailer, tells MT:

“We currently work in partnership with other retailers in a few remote parts of the country. We have been doing it for about a year and it’s working very well.”

The new cross-docks will be strategically located around the UK and Ireland. They will be smaller than the older RDCs, but ideally designed for quick, flow-through operations. Each depot will need around 20 staff to manage it, rather than the 150 to 200 currently running the RDCs.

“All the staff affected by these changes were notified in 2006 of this and a lot of them we hope to re-train and move to other areas of the business,” says Hull.

Asked what type of partners he is looking to collaborate with, Hull says:

“Logically, retailers would fit best, but it could be a haulage or logistics firm in any sector, such as a firm that moves building materials around. Ourselves, along with the Institute of Grocery Distribution, have been trying to push this idea of collaborative working for some time and we’re fully ready to embrace it.”

This will mean much more work and therefore many more HGV drivers will be required. So now has never been a better time to train.

Certain rules and regulations concerning the road safety should indeed be taken very seriously – especially if you are an HGV / LGV driver. Drivers’ hours of work are controlled in the interests of road safety, working conditions and fair competition. Currently, there are maximum limits on driving time and minimum requirements for breaks and rest periods. There are various exemptions from these rules, some of which apply to activities and vehicles on UK journeys only.

If you operate under the European Union (EU) drivers’ hours and tachograph rules, you will in fact be subject to working time provisions within the Road Transport (Working Time) Regulations. Self-employed drivers will be exempt from these regulations until 2009. Drivers of vehicles which are exempt from the EU drivers’ hours and tachograph rules normally fall within the scope of separate UK domestic legislation on drivers’ hours. If you are a driver of such a vehicle, then you will be subject to certain aspects of the main working time regulations.

You need to establish what rules and regulations apply to the HGV work you are undertaking and ensure that you maintain proper tachograph records and return these to the appropriate person as required.

Advantage HGV Training & Jobs - 1st in the UK for HGV News & Information

Finding the perfect job is not as easy as some of us think. Everyone wants to succeed in the HGV industry as it has been advancing and developing in recent times. Many courses offer you the chance of a lifetime: you can attend a course, pass a test which comes at the end of the course and start earning.

To succeed in this particular area is quite easy, and you also gain so much more in return. It is you who decides whether to drive locally or internationally – all you have to do is to keep your eyes on the road and enjoy life as it improves gradually.

Many people believe that the HGV or LGV Training courses are difficult, which is completely wrong. You can finish an HGV Training course in just a few days. After the course, you are obliged to take a test and thus you are one move away from fulfilling your dream of becoming a HGV driver.

A lot of HGV drivers are more than happy to admit that the HGV industry has completely changed their life. After all, how often do you find a job that offers the chance to earn money by driving? Sounds almost too good to be true.

Advantage HGV Training & Jobs - 1st in the UK for HGV News & Information

Becoming an HGV driver offers a lot in return and it can be a relatively easy job too. It certainly offers more freedom, as well as an office-free environment on a daily basis which is preferably to many people.

Due to the huge shortage of HGV drivers in the UK, wages can now even top £30,000 a year, which means that a potential HGV driver gets paid over £500 per week or in other words, £12 per hour, which is pretty amazing considering the flexibility of the job.

HGV training courses, on the other hand, run for just 5 days with an additional test on the last day, providing a unique opportunity to learn quickly for those wanting to get into this area of work.

Unfortunately, research has shown that the UK is suffering from a shortage of qualified HGV drivers, and therefore the approximate industry estimates reveal over 80,000 driving vacancies, indicating once again that HGV drivers are in demand. It certainly sounds like a golden chance of job prospects considering the current economic climate.

Another advantage is the possibility of working as an HGV driver either on a temporary or a permanent basis as not everybody wants a permanent contract. An HGV driver can have the opportunity to work days or nights, locally or nationally, or perhaps internationally and there are job positions available to suit most preferences. After having attended a suitable training course, a potential HGV driver is only a step away from a better future.

Advantage HGV Training & Jobs - 1st in the UK for HGV News & Information

After the recent blaze in the Channel Tunnel, which was the third of its kind to hit the tunnel since its opening in 1994, it has finally re-opened for travel to and from France.

On Thursday September 11th, a fire broke out in the tunnel which caused it to close completely for 2 days. Since then the tunnel has been offering just two freight shuttle services, which have ran between the hours of 7am and 10pm, every two hours.

Now the tunnel has completely re-opened, so that haulage firms can begin transporting their goods to and from mainland Europe via the tunnel again.

The fire itself destroyed 27 HGVs, though no HGV drivers were harmed in the blaze as they all escaped to safety via the service tunnel.

John Keefe, who works for Eurotunnel, stated about the safety procedures that were followed:

‘What they were driving that was in that shuttle is toast but they walked out without a singe.’

Kent Police’ Allyn Thomas stated about the plans to setup a temporary lorry park:

‘It is abundantly clear that an alternative permanent solution must be found eventually. There is general agreement that a lorry park, wherever that may be adopted, remains one of the best options to help alleviate what is a recurring problem.’

Advantage HGV Training & Jobs - 1st in the UK for HGV / News & Information

With the credit crunch hitting business hard, few companies are reporting good news. The logistics and haulage industry in particular has been hit hard, especially with the increased fuel costs escalating so drastically over the last few months.

However one company has been doing well, as the RH Group announced a rise in its pre-tax profits by 20%.
The company changed their tact recently from a focus on volume, to concentrating more on running a profitable business.

The RH Group’s pre-tax profits for the year ending December 2007 was £3.6 million, which was up from £3 million the previous year.

This shows their efforts to increase profitability have worked, as the turnover only rose by 3%, from £119.2 million in 2006 to £122.3 million in 2007.

Ian Baxter, the manager of the RH Group, says that they had expected a small increase in their turnover, but their emphasis was firmly placed on increasing profits.

‘We have passed some costs such as euro exchange rates and fuel on to customers. We have also been very conscious and careful of credit management.’

This shows that even in these difficult financial times, companies can still flourish if they’re careful about maximising their profits. The company is also desperate for HGV LGV drivers, such expansion will require more people to be trained as HGV drivers.

Advantage HGV Training & Jobs – 1st in the UK for HGV / LGV News & Information

Running costs for HGV’s are constantly on the rise, with many smaller haulage firms going out of business or having to make cutbacks because of spiralling costs. However, a new piece of software for managing fleet vehicles could help to reduce fuel costs, and also insurance costs.

The software is aimed at haulage firms and fleet managers who are responsible for fifty or more HGV’s . The software, developed by L&A Consultants, has so far managed to save Leicestershire police a total of £125,000 per year in its fuel expenditures. The software was developed as a test for Leicestershire Constabulary in 2006 and has been used successfully by the police for the last two years.

The software, known as IR3, has so far managed to save the police £4 for every single £1 that they have invested into it.
An added bonus of the software is that it also cuts insurance premiums because of the detail it gives for any accidents. Leicestershire Constabulary have found their insurance premiums cut by £30,000.

Adrian McMullan, of L&A Consultants, stated:

‘We’ve developed it to such a high level of sophistication for the police that it should be fairly straightforward for us to set up for a haulage operator. There are six areas iR3 can be used for: response management job management resource management fleet management duty-of-care management and vehicle tracking.
We will tailor the application to an individual operator’s requirements. They might only be interested in monitoring whether their fleets are being fully utilised, whereas another operator might want to add collision reporting and service forecasting. The main advantage of iR3 is that it has been developed using open-source software, which means it can be integrated into operators’ existing IT systems.
Our software uses proven automated vehicle location system technology that integrates data from virtually any other application, such as scheduling, call handling, CRM, logistics, and sales and fleet management software, among others. L&A charges customers a monthly fee for the software, which includes detailed reports of all data.
If operators want to initially trial iR3 that’s fine with us, or they can start using it across their whole fleet straight away. It is really only cost-effective when run on a fleet of at least 50 vehicles.’ 

AdvantageHGV Training & Jobs - 1st in the UK for HGV / LGV News & Information

It took some considerable time but at long last the appointment of a consultant for HGV licensing has been made. The move came after a number of incidents involving HGV’s that weren’t roadworthy, and the new consultant will be responsible for ensuring that HGV companies maintain their vehicles properly.

The Road Transport Act 2001 contains provisions so that operators of HGV’s / LGV’s ensure that their vehicles are roadworthy. The act is in force now, but the provisions have not come into play due to the fact that regulations haven’t been drafted for the registration and licensing of operators.

The HGV licensing consultant, Murray Oliver, has now been appointed

Ken Berry has been campaigning for the appointment for some time:

‘Obviously I’m pleased that they are moving the whole thing forward. We do tend to lag behind in certain legislative processes but I don’t want to be overly critical of government. Neither do I want to criticise the many safe operators there are but clearly for some its necessary to go down the regulatory route.’

A DoT spokesman stated:

‘We’ve appointed a consultant and we are due to meet with him this week to discuss the way forward.’

AdvantageHGV Training & Jobs - 1st in the UK for HGV / LGV News & Information

Northamptonshire police have warned HGV drivers to stay alert and be aware of thieves in the area, following a series of thefts from lorries. Police are currently investigating three thefts which occurred this month, from Sunday through to Monday this last week.

One of thefts from a HGV occurred when 1,000 television sets were stolen from a lorry, which was parked at the time in a lay-by near the A45. The lorry was broken into between the hours of 11pm Sunday and 6am Monday morning.

A similar theft occurred between 5am Sunday and 1:30am Monday when a HGV that was parked at a secure parking compound was broken into, and 100 cases of whiskey were stolen. The HGV was parked at DRIFT, which is near to Crick.

The third theft happened on Monday morning, between 4am and 5am. A Renault HGV was parked in the services on the M1, at J15A, and was broken into. It was carrying a cargo of Levi Strauss, which was stolen.

Police are advising all HGV drivers to ensure that they park their vehicles in well lit areas, and wherever possible to make sure that they are parked in secure areas.

AdvantageHGV Training & Jobs / 1st in the UK for HGV News & Information

ASC Haulage, based in Slough, was granted an O-licence for three vehicles plus two trailers when their hearing reconvened after gathering more information about the company and its transport manager.

Initially, ASC Haulage had applied for a national licence for four vehicles and two trailers.

Tom Macartney, Western Deputy Traffic Commissioner, had wanted time to consider the repute of the proposed transport manager, Jaspreeta Grewal, previously a director and shareholder of Rex Haulage.  Their application was adjourned when the company was given interim authority to operate an artic by the DTC.

Upon resuming the hearing, Jaspal Singh said that he already held a two-vehicle license in his own name, trading under the name of JS Haulage in West Drayton and wanted a license as a limited company after one customer had said they would prefer to deal with a company and not a sole trader.

The two businesses were therefore effectively just the one business, but Mr Singh wanted to keep them separate for now, to see how things progressed.  If the licence was granted, Mr Singh said he intended to move his two HGV’s to Slough from West Drayton.

The DTC was provided with a video presentation of the procedures and systems that the company intends to adopt.

Mr Singh stated: ‘What we need now is drivers, we have our licence and our new vehicles but we can’t fine decent, qualified HGV / LGV drivers in our area. We can even help with their HGV training!’

AdvantageHGV Training & Jobs – 1st in the UK for HGV / LGV News and Information

TDG has now opened a brand new chemical distribution and storage centre worth £3 million in Teesside, providing a full service for all their customers needs.  The distribution centre is located at the Wilton International Complex less than one mile from Teesport, providing approximately 60,000 square feet of high bay warehousing, including handling capacity for bulk liquids and powders. They will be looking to hire 100’s of HGV drivers to fill new vacancies.

The Wilton International Complex is also home to several global chemical manufacturers, including Artenius, Croda, Dow, Sabic and Invista, all of which are TDG customers and ideal for their HGV drivers.

According to TDG, their decision was influenced by their proposed £300 million investment in a Teesport deep sea container port.  The container port was recently granted approval from central government.

UK operations director at TDG, Colin Rutherford, said:

“Our North-East customers needed logistics solutions to let them take full advantage of the new port capacity and routes.

“So our investment in warehousing, distribution and a complete range of added-value services, from bagging and drumming to silo evacuation and breaking bulk, will mean we’re fully geared to meet our customers’ strategic needs.”

AdvantageHGV Training & Jobs - 1st in the UK for HGV / LGV News & Information

The Road Haulage Association has requested that the Chancellor vary duty levels on petrol and diesel so that the price at the pump for both fuels will remain approximately the same.

For years, the two fuels have been approximately the same pump price, and even as recently as mid-2007, diesel was only 2p or 3p higher than petrol.  However, in the last twelve months the price of diesel has opened up a gap of anything up to 15p, partly due to market demand but also the failure of the UK to invest in diesel refining capabilities.  Currently, it looks as though this price difference will remain the same.

For UK business, diesel is a key fuel as haulage companies add the cost of diesel onto the price that consumer have to pay for food and goods from the shops.  More than forty per cent of cars sold in the UK are now diesel as they give a better mpg than petrol cars and hence have a smaller ‘carbon footprint’.

RHA Chief Executive Roger King, said:

“It makes sense to ensure that diesel users are not penalised compared with petrol users.  As diesel and petrol sales volumes in the UK are roughly the same, a 5p a litre reduction in diesel duty could be off-set by a 5p a litre increase in petrol duty; in the current market that would simply restore the price position of the two fuels to the well-established position of a year ago.

“The reduction would also go some way to closing the fuel duty gap between British trucks and those fuelled elsewhere in the EU, including Ireland, where duty levels are half that of the UK. The all-party transport committee says the duty difference is ‘patently unfair’ (Freight Report, para 116) and Lib Dem Treasury spokesman Vince Cable has noted that it is doing great damage to the British road haulage industry

“We believe that we have won the argument in respect of UK/EU fuel duty levels for hauliers; and using the duty level to restore the intended balance between petrol and diesel prices is a practical way of giving British hauliers a more level playing field on which to compete.

“It is important to remember that diesel duty paid for trucks is a tax on British business – and a heavy one at that, making British industry less competitive.  Diesel and petrol users should share the pain of high oil prices equally.”

Most HGV drivers support the call of the RHA and they await the Chance

AdvantageHGV Training & Jobs - 1st in the UK for HGV / LGV News and Information

The Manchester congestion charge organisers have stated that all trucks will have to pay to travel in Manchester during peak hours.  Hauliers have been urged to ensure that they have their say in a referendum later this year.  HGV’s may be charged the same fees as cars.

Hauliers are apparently unsure about whether or not trucks will have to pay the charges and so the TIF (Transport Innovation Fund), responsible for the plan, has clarified:

“We have made it clear that under the proposals being considered as part of the public consultation HGVs would only pay the same rate as cars.

“The weekday-only, peak-time congestion charge prices for HGVs would be £2 to cross the outer ring heading towards the city centre between 7am and 9:30am and £1 to cross the inner ring. There would be no charge for heading out of the city centre at this time of the day.”

“During the evening peak, between 4pm and 6:30pm, HGVs would pay £1 to exit the city centre if they crossed the inner ring and £1 to cross the outer ring. There would be no charge for vehicles heading towards the city centre at this time of the day.

“There would be no charge at all, regardless of the direction of travel, outside the limited times mentioned, and there is also no charge at all to drive on the M60.”

If the Manchester congestion charge does indeed apply to HGV drivers during peak hours, this could have a significant effect on their work.  Alternatives could include making deliveries and pick-ups outside of hours, meaning people will have to change their working hours to allow for this, so it is important that hauliers attend the referendum and be sure that their voice is heard.

AdvantageHGV Training & Jobs - 1st in the UK for HGV News & Information

SOMI Trailers, based in Scunthorpe, have developed two new trailers which could reduce the number of HGV trucks on the road by almost a third.

Each one can carry around 31 per cent additional load, without being either longer or higher, hence the name SOMI, which stands for Same Outside More Inside.  The trailers fit inside traditional trucks and loading bays so there is no need to modify existing plants or vehicles, which is great news for HGV companies.

In addition, it is claimed they also have the potential to reduce CO2 emissions and congestion as well as raising profitability per journey.  Increased profitability is good news for HGV drivers as many companies have been struggling in the current economic climate.

Pauline Dawes, founder and managing director of SOMI Trailers, said:

“Our trailers use the four-metre long space normally left empty beneath the trailer between the king pin and rear axles.  The trailers enable four standard HGV journeys to be replaced with just three which saves £120,000 a truck/year with a corresponding reduction in CO2 of 400 tonnes and a return on investment in under 18 months.”

The Stage Loading Trailer makes use of load bars to add an extra layer of pallets over those lowered into the space below, and a second design, the SOMI Auto Lifting Trailer, can be loaded without the use of a fork-lift. The core technology behind the new trailer uses an air bag which can raise 8 tonnes per deck.

A self-levelling system that can evenly raise up to 8 tonnes in spite of unequal weight distribution, as well as the air bag, was developed and patented.  In total, seventeen patents were granted so far for the entire project.

The trailer has been designed using the same principles applied to F1 cars, including aerodynamic efficiency and the ability to transfer forces from one part to another.

AdvantageHGV Training & Jobs - 1st in the UK for HGV News & Information

The Manchester congestion charge is due to come into force in 2013.  The RHA is urging any and all HGV operators that work in and around Manchester to strongly oppose the congestion charge and to not give up their fight.

Earlier this year, a spokesperson for the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive said that HGV drivers have until the 10th October to get their voice heard if they feel they should not be forced to pay the charge.

Under the current proposals, the DfT, which is overseeing the proposed scheme through the TIF (Transport Innovation Fund), announced that HGV’s will pay the same charge as cars.

The RHA northern regional director, Geoff Dunning, says that this is actually a move forward.

“The original proposals included a provision that trucks would pay more than cars. I believe that it is because of the RHA’s pressure before the formal consultation that they now propose to set the charge at the same rate as cars: so we have made a little progress.  Having said that, we have not yet given up on the possibility of trucks being exempt, and we are currently urging our members to oppose the imposition of this charge.

Trucks are being treated in exactly the same way as cars, with no recognition of the fact that they deliver the goods that the city’s economy needs.  Also, trucks generally cannot choose a travel time, as customers dictate delivery times.  The charge is irrelevant to trucks as the whole point of the scheme is to change people’s behaviour and get them out of cars.”

All members of the RHA should receive a draft letter from the organisation this week for them to send to the organisation behind the scheme, Greater Manchester Future Transport.  This draft letter will highlight why HGVs should not be forced to pay the charge.

AdvantageHGV Training & Jobs - 1st in the UK for HGV News & Information

Despite the current economic climate and effects of the credit crunch, Bibby Distribution are still forecasting a healthy and profitable 2008.

The Chief Executive of Bibby Distribution, Iain Speak, has confirmed that he remains confident in the outlook for the company’s performance for the remainder of 2008 despite the ways that the current economic climate is affecting a few other companies.

That will be good news for the HGV drivers of the Liverpool-based logistics firm, which has seen a dip in trading during the summer months of July and August.  However, this has been attributed to a number of different factors, not only the credit crunch, but the weather and their usual experience of a summer lull.

Iain Speak added:

“The first half was  significantly up on last year and was above budget. But it’s a bit of a buffer for the second half.”

Bibby Distribution Holdings also had a strong performance in 2007, with healthy accounts up to 31st December 2007.  These figures show a pre-tax profit of £4.2 million from a turnover of £181 million.  This was not only a great profit for 2007 but also a strong improvement from 2006, where the pre-tax profit was showing at only £14,000.

AdvantageHGV Training & Jobs - 1st in the UK for HGV News & Information

In these ‘difficult economic times’ as Gordon Brown is so fond of saying, the haulage industry is one sector of the economy that seems to be bucking the trend.

With last month’s inflation rates at 3.8% - the price of everything is going up but most people’s salaries are not. Poor old public sector workers have had to make do with a paltry 2.6% pay rise this year…below the rate of inflation…so they’re actually worse off than a year ago.

This is not true for HGV drivers. Demand for qualified drivers has meant that salaries for drivers are continuing to rise, over and above the rate of inflation. A salary survey carried out in May 2008 shows that HGV driver wages have increased this year by 7.8% - over double the inflation rate.

It is very rare (unless you’re a Premiership footballer), to see your salary not only keep track with inflation but actually beat it hands down! Qualified HGV drivers have only one thing to say about this….

‘Credit crunch? What credit crunch?’

AdvantageHGV Training & Jobs - 1st in the UK for HGV Training and Information

AdvantageHGV can reveal that the DSA is seriously considering reducing the age you can try for your HGV licence from 21 to 18. With the new ‘Drivers CPC’ coming into force in September 2009, drivers will have to complete an extra 35 hours of training before gaining their HGV licence. This extra training may make it possible for trainees as young as 18 to take their HGV test.

AdvantageHGV Commercial Director James Clifford had this to say on the matter:

‘The new Drivers CPC will ensure that all new HGV drivers are trained to the best possible standard. The DSA now believes that the additional training will make it possible for younger drivers to take the course. This is great news for the industry - with HGV drivers still in chronic short supply - dropping the licencing age to 18 will have a positive effect.’

AdvantageHGV - the UK’s largest single trainer of HGV drivers - is geared up for the change, said Clifford:

‘We have over 1,000 trucks at our disposal and we’re more than ready for an influx of 18-20 yr old drivers queuing up to get their licences in late 2009. HGV drivers continue to earn above average salaries - so a career as a driver could be very lucrative for teenagers!’

AdvantageHGV Training & Jobs - 1st in the UK for HGV News and Information

Shell tanker drivers, who recently went on strike over pay, look closer to achieving their target of a £40,000 a year salary. The tanker drivers, who all have an HGV C+E licence, feel that their job should be highly paid.

The HGV driver industry currently offers some of the best wages to work ratio in the UK. Fuel tanker drivers can expect to earn at least £32,000 a year - and all they need is an HGV C+E licence and an ADR (Hazardous Goods) certificate. Both of these qualifications, available from AdvantageHGV, can be obtained in 6-8 weeks - with a well-paid driving job available shortly afterwards.

The Shell dispute only highlights how important HGV drivers are to our economy, and those who carefully and professionally drive 200,000 litres of petrol across Europe, should be rewarded.

AdvantageHGV Training & Jobs - 1st in the UK for HGV News & Information

The latest stats from the DVLA show that more and more people are applying for their provisional LGV / HGV licence, with a view to training to become a professional driver.

Industry figures reveal that the chronic driver shortage shows no signs of letting up. With an estimated 80,000 HGV vacancies in the UK alone (6,000 of those jobs can be viewed here:  www.advantagehgv.co.uk/hgv_jobs.php), training to become an HGV driver is still the career of choice for 1000’s of people.

Driver’s unions have recently campaigned to give HGV drivers a minimum wage of £36,000 - and companies such as DHL are considering these proposals. In fact, the wages of a qualified HGV driver have continued to rise way above inflation, year on year for the past 10 years.

With a Europe wide change in the rules to becoming an HGV driver (from Sep 2009 new drivers will have to complete an extra 35hrs of training), new recruits are flocking to the market. Companies such as AdvantageHGV, the UK’s largest provider of driver training courses, are bracing themselves for a ‘booking frenzy’ in the months immediately before the new rules kick in.

So, with £36,000 a year fast becoming a reality for an HGV driver and with over 80,000 jobs showing no signs of being filled in the immediate future - Summer 2008 is the year to train as an HGV driver.

James Clifford, head of Commercial Director at AdvantageHGV, had these final words to say on the subject:

‘With the fast approaching new EU laws on HGV driver training, the days of the 5 day course will soon be numbered. We advise anyone thinking of trying for their licence to book a training course ASAP - as soon it will take twice as long and cost twice as much!’

Advantage HGV Training & Jobs - 1st in the UK for HGV News & Information

100’s of HGV drivers from all over the UK, descended in their vehicles to London - where they have staged a protest against rising fuel prices. With diesel prices now hitting £1.30 a litre, some haulage firms believe they will go bust very quickly. It now costs over £1,000 in diesel costs to run a HGV for a week, a figure which the haulage world are not happy with.

Protesters have demanded a 25p rebate for essential commercial use, which will bring the UK in line with other European countries. Some members of Welsh HGV firms have threatened to block ports and refineries if the government doesn’t budge.

Petrol and diesel prices are currently 70% tax - so it makes sense for the government to reduce duty when oil prices rise. Other EU countries have helped their citizens quickly and efficiently. The French immediately cut the duty on fuel when oil prices started to rise earlier this year. That example of a forward thinking and helpful government is a far cry from Brown and Darling’s incompetence and greed.

Commentators are predicting a repeat of 2001’s fuel protest, which brought the country to a standstill and like the 10p tax before, the government is widely expected to complete a u-turn on this policy. Hopefully HGV firms, drivers and the millions whose jobs depend on the haulage industry, will be given a helping hand by our so called ‘Labour’ government.

 Advantage HGV Training & Jobs - First in the UK for HGV News & Information

Finland became the latest European nation to decide against road pricing plans for HGVs. Britain is still thinking about introducing a ‘pay as you go’ scheme for HGVs across the UK. These plans have been rubbished by the FTA and RHA as ‘unworkable’. The pay as you drive option (to replace road tax) would mean the HGV drivers, owners and operators end up paying a fortune in tax - as they travel the highest mileage of any vehicles on the road.

Finland’s transport and communications ministry said in a statement Thursday it had stopped planning a trial of a heavy goods vehicle road pricing scheme for want of a workable technical solution. The government had intended to test an HGV road pricing system in southeastern Finland, which has long experienced congestion in the form of lorries heading for Russia. The ministry said in the statement that the introduction of road pricing would have reduced the area’s competitiveness.  However, the working group that dismissed the road pricing trial also proposed charging vehicles entering a new lorry park to be built in the southeast. The government hopes the 24-million-euro lorry park will ease congestion on roads leading to border crossings.

Advantage HGV Training & Jobs - 1st in the UK for HGV News & Information

Supermarket giant Sainsbury’s is planning to open its new 500,000 sq ft distribution facility this summer. The centre, based in Selby, Yorkshire will generate over 500 jobs in the HGV and distribution sectors, proving once again that HGV drivers will be in exceptionally high demand.

Sainsbury’s smaller facilities at Matby and Skelton are predicted to close when the Selby depot opens. There are no predicted job losses - as HGV drivers will move to Selby - where they’ll still need another 500 to run the new site!

With HGV Training centres across Yorkshire, Advantage HGV can train drivers in just 5 days. So if you live in that part of the world and fancy a well paid Sainsbury’s driving position - get in touch.

Advantage HGV Training & Jobs - 1st in the UK for HGV News & Information

Over the weekend Londoners removed ‘Red’ Ken from office and voted in Blue Boris to be London’s Mayor. But what does this change mean for London’s HGV industry?

• Boris has stated he will halt the planned £25 a day congestion charge. This will be a welcome relief for small businesses and families in the capital. Advantage HGV spoke to Brian Gomez, a self employed heating engineer. ‘The threat of a £25 a day Congestion Charge would have bankrupted me,’ said Gomez, ‘I can’t afford to buy a new van, yet the old one would have cost me over £6,000 a year to visit customers in London, I’m over the moon Ken’s gone.’
• Mayor Johnson has also said he will review the Western extension of the Congestion Charge - if this removed it will again provide blessed relief for the HGV and haulage industry working in and delivering to the capital
• The LEZ also looks set to be reviewed - with a hope that the current draconian punishments for HGV firms who can’t afford the costly uprgrades, be scrapped

On a wider national level, the election results look set to benefit HGV drivers, firms and individual motorists across the UK. Gordon Brown’s Labour government took such a beating last Thursday - that the Prime Minister will be forced to re-evaluate some of his controversial tax rises. Hopefully we can expect to see:

• A cancellation of the proposed 2% fuel duty rise in October
• A review of the controversial road tax rises based on engine size
• Re-introduction of the 10p tax rates

If the above happens, then we can be thankful for Boris and what he has achieved. HGV training costs will be kept lower if fuel price rises are scrapped and HGV operators will find it easier and more profitable to operate in London.

Advantage HGV Training & Jobs - 1st in the UK for HGV / LGV News & Information

The number of resident drivers from other EU states on UK roads has risen on UK roads by 270,000 in the last six years.
Research by insurance company LV= reveals the cost to the economy of foreign EU drivers will total £795 million in 2008 - a rise of more than £100 million from 2006.
The number of foreign EU drivers resident in the UK has risen by more than 50 per cent between 2001 and 2007.

With 88 per cent of these newcomers coming from 2004 onwards, the report indicates the ten countries that joined the EU in that year, and the two doing so in 2007, have driven the increase in total EU drivers.

Additionally, HGV traffic has also risen by over 33 per cent in the same six year period. One in seven HGVs on UK roads is from another EU country.

“There has been a steep rise in drivers from other European countries over the past few years and our report shows the cost of insurance claims, accidents and potential congestion has escalated as well,” said John O’Roarke, managing director of LV=.

“The development of the EU has enabled people to be much more mobile in their lives and work, however, there appears to have been little forward planning to cope with the impact of this. For the safety and benefit of all drivers on UK roads - both UK and foreign nationals - we believe the tightening of driving standards across the EU should now be a government priority.”

LV= is calling on the government to introduce more stringent EU-wide driving standards to diminish the extra cost for UK drivers.

Insurance claims involving foreign EU drivers in the UK have grown in number since 2001, according to data from the Motor Insurers Bureau (MIB).

Since 2001, collisions involving said drivers have risen by 61.4 per cent (from 11,685 to 18,865). Polish motorists top the accident tables, with 16.6 per cent of all claims.

“One of the particular problems we as an insurance industry, and therefore motorists, suffer is the ability to resolve a claim quickly when it involves a vehicle from outside the UK,” Mr O’Roarke continued.

“When two vehicles from different countries are involved in an accident the current process is costly and slow, meaning that the most complex claims can take years to settle.

“This is because there are so many intermediaries involved in the negotiations. By tightening up driving and vehicle standards across the EU we can hopefully reduce the number of accidents.

“The insurance industry is already feeling the effects of the increasing numbers of EU drivers on British roads through rising claims costs.

“This could potentially impact insurance premiums, while the expense of additional emergency services and road maintenance will inevitably have to be met by the British taxpayer.

“There is already some Europe wide legislation planned but this needs to be widened and brought forward to help alleviate the issues.”

Steve Green, chief constable of Nottinghamshire police and the Association of Chief Police Officers lead on road policing, said: “We are aware that with the changing economy and cultural diversity brought about by the development of the EU, there has been a significant increase in the number of foreign nationals using our roads.

“This obviously has an impact on congestion and puts additional pressure on the Police and emergency services. However, we are working closely with the Department for Transport to ensure that our legislation and policing methods are evolving to make dealing with foreign national drivers easier.”

In contrast recently released by the AA finds average comprehensive car insurance premiums fell 0.5 per cent to £681.93 in the first quarter of 2008, down from £685.29 in the previous quarter.

Similarly, the average third-party fire and theft car insurance premiums fell 0.9 per cent to £838.50 over the period, down from £846.28 final quarter of 2007.

Indeed, the AA research finds the industry remains unprofitable, with insurers paying out £112 in claims for every £100 taken in premiums.

Advantage HGV Training & Jobs - 1st in the UK for HGV / LGV News & Information

Norwich has abandoned plans to introduce a congestion charge after a study revealed that it wouldn’t raise enough money to fund other transport schemes. However, the £500,000 report has strengthened the case for a Norwich Northern Distributor Road (NDR), which would cut city-centre travel time by 16%.

The county and city councils used money from the government’s transport innovation fund to investigate the potential of a congestion charge in the East Anglian city. A feasibility study found that charging vehicles to go inside Norwich’s inner ring road would only produce a “modest” surplus, insufficient for significant investment in other transport projects.

A recommendation from the local authorities will be made in May for no further work to be carried out. It states: “We do not feel we could put together a sufficiently attractive package capable of securing sufficient public support for successful implementation. It is unlikely that we could prepare a satisfactory bid to government for substantive funding.”

Adrian Gunson, cabinet member for planning and transportation, says: “The council always envisaged that an acceptable road-pricing scheme would have to provide funds for significantly improved public transport and to accelerate projects such as the Northern Distributor Road. Pricing people off the city-centre streets without offering attractive alternatives is not what we are trying to achieve.”

Gunson adds: “On its own, the NDR would cut city centre travel time by 16% and distance travelled by 13%, as well as being the only proposal that would taking rat-running traffic out of Thorpe St Andrew, Sprowston, Catton, Hellesdon and other residential areas.”

Advantage HGV Training & Jobs - 1st in the UK for HGV / LGV News & Information

The most senior official in the biggest road transport union has warned that more HGV operators will go bust unless the government offers an essential users rebate on diesel tax. Ron Webb, Unite’s national secretary for road transport, made his comments after meeting with leaders of Transaction, the movement campaigning against the high price of fuel.

Webb says: “We are sympathetic to Transaction’s views. The government needs to listen to the trade associations. Unless it introduces a method of returning some of the tax to HGV and haulage companies, it will simply not be able to continue to operate. Not only will small companies go bust, but larger companies are informing us across the bargaining table that unless they see a change soon it will mean lower wages for employees.”

AdvantageHGV Training & Jobs - 1st in the UK for HGV News and Information

Fears that HGV drivers around Heathrow Airport could face a daily congestion charge to pay for airport development have been dismissed by BAA. The suggestion was that BAA wanted to introduce a £3 daily congestion charge for HGVs to help pay for further airport expansion. However this is not planned for Heathrow “or any BAA airport at the moment”, says a spokeswoman.

She adds that if BAA did get permission to build a sixth terminal and a third runway, the cost of the schemes “would be a matter for the Civil Aviation Authority, which regulates BAA’s charges”. At least two national newspapers reported that a charge was being considered however the BAA spokeswoman says these stories were based on old discussion papers.

She adds that it was air quality control, rather than the cost of infrastructure, which had caused the possibility of a charge to be raised as part of the Heathrow consultation in November 2006. However this was dismissed by the Department for Transport as unnecessary for meeting air quality limits.

Advantage HGV Training & Jobs - 1st in the UK for HGV News and Information

The Green Party has called for foreign HGVs to be charged “as much as possible” for using Kent’s roads.

Steve Dawe, spokesman for the party in Kent, said an HGV park need not be built at Aldington if the Government charged HGVs from other countries, like governments in other EU countries do.

He said: “There is no reason to hand over valuable land for HGV parking. We need to challenge HGV movements at source by forcing hauliers and freight forwarding companies to use roads as little as possible. Containers can be moved by ship and rail.”

It is EU policy that goods travelling more than 400 km – around 249 miles – should use rail and canals and only be on roads for part of their journey, the party said.

“It would be appropriate to protect Kent from foreign HGVs by charging them as much as possible. A single 44-tonne HGV does as much damage to roads in a year as 100,000 family cars,” Mr Dawe said. A claim disputed by anyone with any real knowledge of Road Transport and HGVs. An HGV delivering to a supermarket contains enough goods to last two days. This is the equivalent to 15,000 people driving to collect the goods themselves.

Hazel Dawe, the party’s speaker on Europe for the South East, said: “If governments like those in France, Switzerland and Austria have cut use of HGVs on their roads by legally charging foreign lorries, then for the British Government to decline to do so is  an abdication of responsibility.”

Currently foreign owned HGVs prefer to travel from abroad to the UK - they buy their petrol on the continent where it is 30% cheaper and drive here, returning before refuelling. This works out cheaper than using UK based hauliers as the cost of driving in the UK is the highest in Europe.

Advantage HGV Training and Jobs - 1st in the UK for HGV News and Information

Just one day after Labour gave up on a vignette scheme to charge foreign HGV’s for using UK roads, the Conservatives re-confirmed their interest in a lorry road user charge (LRUC).

Speaking to MT readers at a Fraikin-backed debate last Thursday, shadow roads minister Robert Goodwill said: “We have already announced our intention to look at a LRUC system [but] it’s important that any system is revenue-neutral for UK hauliers. The details will need to be worked out very carefully: for instance, how the rebates on the fuel are fed back.”

Asked about cutting fuel duty and increasing VAT on fuel, Goodwill said: “I’m not in the Treasury, but I will mention it to my colleagues as a possible way of lightening the burden.” Regards investment in new roads, he said: “We need to look at innovative ways of funding road improvements - and I think the model of the M6 Toll is the model we need. Any tolls must only be levied on new capacity.”

UK HGV firms and hauliers are facing increasing competition from abroad - where fuel is considerably cheaper. Unless the government do something to kerb fuel tax increases, this problem will only get worse.

Advantage HGV Training and Jobs - 1st in the UK for HGV News and Information

One well-hidden part of the Budget sure to cause controversy is the fact the government has abandoned plans to charge foreign HGV’s for using the UK’s roads.

The decision was not announced in the Chancellor’s speech and indeed is not featured on the Treasury’s website. However, in an email to the FTA, the government says: “The conclusions of the Freight Data Feasibility Study will be published shortly, identifying that the options, including a vignette, would deliver limited safety, congestion, environmental and social benefits. The decision has therefore been taken not to progress a vignette at this time.

“Given this, the Government will not take forward a vignette at this time but will instead focus on improving the UK’s enforcement system. To support this and understand better the movement of foreign vehicles within the UK, the Government will refresh the 2003 foreign vehicle data survey.”

The industry has been campaigning for some form of charge to help level the playing field against foreign operators, and to make them pay for using the UK’s roads, since the fuel protests of 2000. Initially the government promised the LRUC, but when that was abandoned in 2005 other schemes were suggested.

However, eight years later and it is no closer to coming with a solution to the problem, giving foreign HGV’s what the FTA describes as a “free ride” in the UK.

Advantage HGV Training and Jobs - 1st in the UK for HGV News and Information

The company - formed by a merger between ports group Westbury and Eddie Stobart last year - has bought James Irlam & Sons for £59.9m paid £10m cash for transport engineering specialist WA Developments and also entered into an option to acquire Carlisle Airport, for £15m. Rodney Baker-Bates, Stobart Group chairman, says: “Irlam is a company with a strong track record for solid delivery and first-class customer service, with an operating ethos very similar to that of Eddie Stobart,” Barker-Bates told Advantage HGV Training and Jobs. He continued:
“The acquisition of WA Developments and the option to purchase Carlisle Airport will enhance the development of our existing operations and provide additional growth opportunities.” David Irlam, chief executive of Irlam, will also join the board of Stobart Group as executive director. Irlam says: “It will be good to be part of a strong group involved in rail and water, which will increase opportunities for our staff. We have worked in co-operation with Stobart for many years and it was a case of the timing and fit both being right.”

Turnover at Irlam, for the year to April 2007, rose to £49.5m - up from £42.4m in 2006, while pre-tax profit was £265,053 in 2007 - up from £208,302 in 2006. Meanwhile, WA Developments, which is owned by Andrew Tinkler and William Stobart, chief executive and chief operating officer respectively of Stobart, has been advising Stobart on its proposed revamp of the Port of Weston in Runcorn. Carlisle Airport, whose parent company is WA Developments International, owns 460 acres of land in the area, on which the group plans to build a new logistics centre, subject to planning permission.

The planned £15m airport deal includes £2.5m in cash and £12.5m in shares. Mark O’Bornick, director of market analysis firm Analytiqa, adds: “The UK air freight market was stagnant in 2007, but that is not to say Stobart is wrong to look at the market. Kuehne & Nagel was able to improve its performance in the UK air freight sector by 18% in 2007, so opportunities for growth are there to be seized.” Stobart plans to raise £75m through a placing and open offer of 57.67 million ordinary shares at 130p a share to finance all the deals. The enlarged firm will have net assets of more than £320m, operate more than 1,300 trucks and 2,300 trailers, and employ more than 3,500 UK staff.

Advantage HGV Training and Jobs - 1st in the UK for HGV News and Information

The delay in the rise on fuel duty unveiled in the Budget last week was given a qualified welcome by hauliers this week, although many say the measure is a small step where a large one was needed. The scheduled 2p per litre increase in duty has now been delayed until October, although the rising cost of oil means that fuel continues to rise in price at the pumps. The delay in duty will save the industry around £140 million, says the FTA , although, since January 2007, the bulk price of diesel has risen from 74p to 92p per litre.

Roger King, the chief executive of the RHA, says: “It is encouraging to know we have a Chancellor who has listened to what we have to say. However, this deferment is essentially a short-term fix.” King points out that if the October increase in duty does go ahead, it will be followed by another proposed rise of 1.84p per litre in April 2009. The RHA argues that a lowering of the diesel price for hauliers is crucial if UK operators are to be allowed to compete fairly against foreign companies, who fill their trucks with diesel “that is at least 26p per litre cheaper”.

The RHA says its campaign to stop further increases in fuel duty will continue. The FTA also welcomed the decision to delay the increase in duty, but adds “any duty increase should have been put off for at least a year while the market remains so turbulent”. Geoff Dossetter, the FTA’s director of external affairs, says: “The high price of fuel has an impact not just on the transport industry, but on the whole UK industry, as world prices go through the roof. In turn, these increased prices must be passed to consumers.”

Diesel
Independent petrol stations warned this week that not only is the price of diesel likely to rise despite the delay in raising fuel duty, but also that there will be fewer places for hauliers to fill up. Independent petrol stations have been closing at the rate of nearly two a day (600 a year) for several years, says the Federation of Petroleum Suppliers. While the FPS was among the many who welcomed the delay in duty increase, it adds that “this does not solve problems created by duty rises for independent forecourts, merely puts them off until October”.

The problem for independent petrol stations is that the price of fuel has risen so much that some cannot afford the minimum loads that oil companies will deliver - typically around 30,000 litres. Small petrol station operators also find it difficult because they have to pay duty when fuel is delivered, rather than when they sell it. The FPS has been campaigning for years to have this changed. There are now 6,300 independent petrol stations left in the UK, says the FPS, but if the current rate of closure continues, there will hardly be any in 10 years’ time. An FPS spokesman says: ” From a hauliers’ point of view, it means there will be fewer and fewer places to buy diesel. And they are hardly going to want to queue up for 20 minutes at a supermarket, are they?”

Advantage HGV Training and Jobs - 1st in the UK for HGV News and Information

Artic drivers’ basic hourly pay has risen sharply by an average 9.4%, according to new figures from Incomes Data Services.

The pay leap is despite suggestions that recruitment and retention difficulties could be easing.

The survey of pay and conditions in 104 haulage firms, in association with the RHA, reveals the average hourly basic rate for an artic driver is £8.23 an hour, 9.4% up on last year. Drivers of rigid vehicles are paid 6.4% more than last year at £7.60 an hour.

A quarter of firms told IDS the recruitment and retention situation had improved. The RHA’s head of employment, Ruth Pott, says that “things seemed to have quietened down” on the skills shortage front, although, she adds, “we haven’t really established a reason for that”.

Nearly half of companies said a lack of qualified drivers was the largest factor affecting turnover and just 14 companies said they employed drivers from EU accession states, of which 12 specified they employed Polish workers.

Pay settlement levels for the road transport sector are at a median 3.2%, says the IDS report.

Latest figures from the FTA’s Manager’s guide to distribution costs, meanwhile, show that pay settlement levels averaged 2.8% in the nine months to October 2006.

Advantage HGV Training & Jobs - 1st for HGV News and Information

The transport industry can breathe a sigh of relief: Chancellor Alistair Darling has deferred the 2p/litre fuel duty hike until October. However, confusingly he said that fuel duty will rise by 0.5p in real terms (ie. over the rate of inflation) “for environmental reasons” in 2010. He acknowledged the massive increases in the cost of all forms of power and noted: “We will do everything in our power to maintain stability [of the economy].”

Stobart Group chief executive Andrew Tinkler welcomed the news: “Today’s announcement will come as a welcome relief to consumers around the country who have been forced to foot the bill for the rising cost of fuel over recent months. Whilst the Stobart Group works with our customers to share the burden of rising fuel prices, increases are always felt most by ordinary consumers during their weekly shop, as our customers are forced to pass on the rising cost of fuel.”

FTA director of external affairs Geoff Dossetter said: “The high price of fuel impacts on not just the transport industry but the whole of UK industry as world prices go through the roof.  In turn these increased prices must be passed to consumers. For the Chancellor to have added to this pain by seeking further taxation would have been unthinkable. “But as the price of oil continues to rise, he must continue to keep his foot off the fuel duty accelerator – the proposed 0.5p/litre above inflation increase from 2010 can be no more than speculative.”

“Now the work begins on securing further deferment after 1 October, bearing mind the enormous rises in the price of oil. There’s still great trouble ahead and a further deferment is absolutely essential.” The FTA claims that the six-month deferment will save industry some £140m. Road pricing remains on the agenda: “In the longer term road pricing could reduce congestion in the future as well as helping our wider environmental obligations. I am setting aside new funding to develop national road pricing technology,” Darling said. The government will ask the private sector to run a number of projects based on charging by time of day, distance traveled and route chosen. These projects test the impact of financial incentives on driver behaviour.

Darling said he would ask the Climate Change Committee to review the government’s target of a 60% cut in carbon emissions by 2050 and consider a greater reduction of 80%. New non-domestic buildings should be zero-carbon by 2019. Funds available through the small firms’ loans guarantee will increase by 60% in the next year. In reference to the state of UK plc, Darling downgraded his forecast for growth of the economy: 1.75% to 2.25% this year, followed by 2.25% to  2.75% in 2009. Corporation tax will fall from 38% to 28%, while the capital gains tax changes were confirmed.

Advantage HGV Training & Jobs - 1st for HGV News and Information

The latest fuel price survey shows that the average price of a litre of diesel has risen by 5 pence so far this year. This amounts to an increase of £3,000 per annum on the fuel bill for the EVERY heavy goods vehicle.

“On the eve of his Budget, we urge the Chancellor not to add to the acute financial burden of haulage operators by putting an extra 2 pence per litre on fuel duty,” said RHA Chief Executive Roger King.  “It makes no sense to increase the UK’s transport costs at a time when these are playing an increasingly significant role in putting UK businesses at risk.  Furthermore, if the Chancellor believes that another rise in fuel duty sends out an environmental message, he is grievously mistaken.  Hard pressed haulers are having difficulty financing their fuel costs, never mind being in a position to buy new trucks and to embrace technology changes designed to make their logistical operations more efficient.”

The RHA warmly welcome the proposal by the Scottish National Party to introduce a fuel duty regulator, designed to off-set world increases in fuel with a reduction in duty.  The RHA petitioned the Scottish Parliament on this very proposal and received considerable support. “Whilst we want to see a wholesale reduction in fuel duty to bring it in line with that paid elsewhere within the EU, the introduction of a regulator would stop this difference become even more excessive,” concluded Roger King.

Advantage HGV Training & Jobs - 1st for HGV News and Information

The Freight Transport Association says that in tomorrow’s Budget the Chancellor must announce that he is to scrap or defer his proposal for a 2p per litre increase in fuel duty from 1 April. FTA says that the increasing price of oil on the world market has created record high prices of diesel for lorry operators and the Government must not load more pain on industry by increasing fuel duty.During February an alliance of business and motoring representative groups told the Chancellor that the higher cost of transporting goods and services resulting from price rises in fuel had impacted on every single company throughout the UK, and thus on their customers.Members of the alliance include the Freight Transport Association, Road Haulage Association, Automobile Association, British Association of Removers, British Chambers of Commerce, Confederation of Passenger Transport, Federation of Small Businesses, Forum of Private Business, National Farmers Union, Petrol Retailers’ Association and the RAC Foundation.In its formal submission in advance of the Budget, FTA called for: