AdvantageHGV Training 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

‘AdvantageHGV was set up with one thing in mind’, said Commercial Director, James Clifford, ‘we aimed to be the UK’s most popular and most efficient HGV training provider. The fact that we have achieved this aim in just one year, is a testament to the skills and service level that Advantage provides. Our HGV training packages are second to none, we offer a guided, fully supported course that ensures our trainees the best chance of success  and with our pass rates now at 74% - we’re achieving that!’

Clifford was also keen to explain the company’s new job search tool:

‘AdvantageHGV have another claim to fame - our phenomenal HGV jobs board is now the single largest jobsite for commercial driving positions. With over 7,000 live positions on the site at any one time, our newly qualified drivers won’t have to wait long before landing a well paid HGV job.’

Visit AdvantageHGV’s new jobs board at:

http://www.advantagehgv.co.uk/hgv_jobs.php

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

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 UK HGV Training, 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

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

The forward-looking scheme will help with congestion. Bus lanes, although taking up half the road on approaches to Norwich, are only utilised by 10% of the traffic. This forces the other 90% (including HGVs) to sit in solid traffic, which causes more emissions, more noise and loses business £millions. By allowing HGVs to travel in the bus lanes, Norwich can ensure that delivery of fresh produce and consumer goods can arrive safely, quickly and with less impact on the environment.

Adrian Gunson, a voting member on the committee, supported the scheme and saw the benefits for the city as a whole.

He said: “The point is we’ve been asked today by those who are opposed to it to treat it as if Norwich is exclusive to cyclists”.

This sensible approach would work well in other cities - especially London, where roads have been hi-jacked by cyclists lobbies - yet cyclists account for no more than 9% of road traffic in the city.

Allowing HGVs and private cars (if they are occupied by two or more passengers) to use bus lanes in the Capital would be a remarkable step forward. An unavoidable fact of our ‘home shopping’ generation, is that more and more goods need to be transported by HGV. Every Tesco / Ocado home delivery needs a qualified HGV driver - and the roads need to accommodate this fact.

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

Although the HGV entitlement on the licence is fake - and won’t show up if a police officer or employer checks with the DVLA - but concerns have been raised that the licences look real enough to pass roadside checks.

The licences can also be ordered with a paper counter-part if an extra £100 is added to the bill and this has raised concern amongst HGV operators. HGV training courses take a minimum of 5 days to complete, with a vigorous DSA driving test at the end.

Anyone thinking of buying a fake HGV licence could be in for a shock if they try and use it to get a job. Gary Benardout, Managing Director of AdvantageJobs said:

‘At Advantage we have over 5,000 HGV positions available at any time, if a potential employee were to arrive for a job interview with a fake licence, the consequences would be dire. 99% of employers will screen HGV licences via the DVLA hot-line - and if a fake licence holder is sitting in-front of them…they’ll call the police’.

The police can prosecute fake licence holders for fraud, and in the event of an accident, hefty jail terms can be handed down to non-insured, fraudulent licence holders.  The DVLA and the police have powers to enforce jail terms of 10 years for fake licence holders.

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

Sourced from haulage operators, agencies, small businesses and government departments - the jobs board at www.advantagehgv.co.uk/hgv_jobs.php  now contains more direct HGV employment opportunities than any other website.

The simple, easy to use interface has proved a hit with HGV drivers. Simply select your licence and than chose where you want to work - it’s as easy as that. AdvantageHGV director Gary Benardout said:

‘Advantage’s new HGV jobs board has taken our HGV Training offering to another level. We now train and find our drivers jobs when they’ve got their licence - this is a first for the industry. And best of all - it’s free! Free for drivers to search for jobs, free for employers to advertise their jobs and free to receive updates on jobs in your area, as and when they occur’.

Keep checking for more from the AdvantageHGV website - as developments in the pipeline include: An HGV video guide to training; full 100 question theory test modules; jobs ‘wanted’ section and much, much more.

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

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

• 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

“Companies were able to register online before the scheme was rolled out. Our target is to have 500 members on board in the first year.”Registering online is just the first step in the membership process after completing a self-assessment, a member of the Metropolitan Police Service Commercial Vehicle Education Unit will visit the operator’s premises to carry out a formal assessment. If the operator meets the criteria, they will then be awarded either a gold, silver or bronze membership to FORS. To date, 12 police officers make up the FORS assessment arm, but if necessary, “more resources will be added,” claims Davies. Stephen Steele, head of TfL’s HGV / LGV unit, adds:

“We hope the scheme will encourage HGV / LGV operators to focus on how they can adopt better working practices to make them stand out from their competitors and make their businesses more efficient, while actively contributing to the wider agenda of reducing their impact on climate change and improving sustainability.” For more information about FORS, which is part of the wider London HGV / LGV Plan, published in January 2008

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

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

HGV haulage within the European Union (EU) is set for constant expansion until 2030, according to a detailed report written for the European Commission. It predicts that 2005’s EU HGV total haulage of 2,464 gpkm (one billion tonnes carried over one kilometre) will rise to 2,770 by 2010 3,061 by 2015 3,321 by 2020 3,546 by 2025 and 3,717 by 2030. HGV haulage will command the lion’s share of this business, growing from 72.6% in 2005 to 75.4% by 2030.

The study - carried out by the National Technical University of Athens, Greece - also predicts there will be growth for the freight volumes carried by rail and inland waterways, reversing a recent contraction in rail freight. Rail and inland waterways will grow by 1.4% and 1% per year respectively from 2005 to 2030.

But the amount of freight per unit of GDP in the EU will fall because of factors such as transport productivity. “The projection shows freight activity per unit of GDP declining from 0.225 tonne-km per €0.05 of GDP in 2005 to 0.199 tonne-km per €0.05 of GDP,” notes the report, adding that this represented “a gradual decoupling of freight transport from GDP growth”.

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

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

Gaynor took her action in the Employment Tribunal against both Exel Europe and recruitment agency Blue Arrow. She claimed she was discriminated against after turning up for work in women’s clothes, earrings and make-up during the time that she was in transition from being a man to being a woman.

The tribunal considered a number of allegations, two of which it accepted but several of which it rejected. It accepted that Gaynor was removed by Exel from her regular work run “in part because of her transition status”. The tribunal also says that Blue Arrow discriminated against Gaynor in the way it dealt with her grievances.

But a number of other allegations were dismissed, including the suggestion that her employers discriminated against her in the allocation of runs after she was removed from her usual work. The tribunal also rejected a claim that the removal of some of Gaynor’s property from a cab was discriminatory and it ruled that Exel Europe did not discriminate against her in the way it dealt with her grievances.

Blue Arrow said after the case that it “accepts the outcome of the employment tribunal’s ruling” and added it is “committed to fair treatment for all”. DHL Exel Supply Chain said it is “currently considering the reserved judgement of the Liverpool Employment Tribunal and until that is complete it would not be appropriate for us to comment further”. Compensation for Gaynor has not yet been decided but will be considered at a remedy hearing, the date of which is yet to be fixed.

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

Volvo has begun field trials of a new parallel hybrid truck. The Swedish manufacturer appears to have made a major leap in battery technology and plans volume production of this dual-fuel chassis in around two years’ time. The culmination of 20 years of research and development, the 26-tonne FE-series rigid is fitted with diesel and electric power sources and carries a waste-collection body. Volvo claims this development to be an “environmental and carbon-neutral transport”, which aside from emissions reduction, also cuts noise pollution. Intended primarily for urban collection and distribution duties, the FE hybrid also has the potential to run on biofuel.

The truck scores over previous prototypes in eliminating the payload penalty incurred by onboard batteries by using a lighter, lithium-ion type. The driveline comprises a 320hp, Euro 5 diesel engine, automated clutch, I-Shift gearshift, integrated starter alternator motor (I-SAM), energy converter, lithium-ion batteries and a powertrain management unit (PMU). Volvo says this technology is more reliable than natural gas/diesel dual-fuel vehicles and cites potential fuel savings of 15% to 20% for distribution work and 15% to 30% for refuse collection. Electric power is used for starting the vehicle, accelerating to 20km/h, start/stop work, short periods of idling and loading. During electrical operation, the diesel unit stops completely.

Electric power has extremely good torque characteristics, enabling a smaller and lighter diesel engine than customary at this GVW to be specified. Diesel propulsion better suits higher speeds - for example, main road running. All refuse bodies have too many moving parts to be very light, but the Norba ‘plug-in’ system’s 1.2-tonne weight combined with an unladen body weight of five tonnes permits a respectable 11.5-tonne payload on a 26-tonne GVW hybrid vehicle. The system is designed for stand-alone operation and operated by an electric engine powered by batteries charged from cheap off-peak power supplies. Norba - part of the Oshkosh group - claims the stand-alone system gives zero CO2 emissions and a 20% fuel saving when used with a conventional chassis, and potentially more with a parallel hybrid. The operation is also very quiet, ideal for residential areas.

Renova, a large Swedish recycling and waste collection company owned by 11 municipalities, operates Volvo’s field trial truck. Because refuse trucks are stationary 60% to 70% of the time, parallel hybrid technology is ideal, as bins can be hoisted and rubbish compacted using just electric power. Renova charges the body batteries with ‘green’ electricity, and says dual diesel/electric operation reduces overall emissions by up to 30%. “Hybrid technology will play a major role in the future as the climate and fuel dependency come into ever-sharper focus,” says Mats Franzen, engine manager at Volvo Truck. “No matter which fuels dominate in the future, their supply will be limited… In long-haul operations, the percentage (fuel) reduction will not be as great, but the total fuel saving will be considerable.”

A representative of Coca-Cola UK’s transport operation was at the recent hybrid launch in Gothenburg. Darren O’Donnell, logistics asset manager, says: “At Coca-Cola Enterprises, corporate responsibility and sustainability is a key priority. In the US, we are already on track to have the largest hybrid truck fleet with 120 hybrid vehicles operational by the end of the year. We remain interested in new opportunities in this field across our business.” Volvo reckons it is “too early to say” on pricing.

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

It will operate 24-hours a day, have space for 75 HGVs and trailers, and provide chilled storage and distribution services for retailers across the UK. Richard Berry, head of human resources at Culina, says: “The new site is making excellent progress. “We’re looking for people who share our vision of providing high-quality, customer-focused service.”

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