Several new arrivals are providing more choice for fleet managers needing vehicle cranes and loaders. John Challen casts his eye over some of the offerings
Cranes
Vehicle MOT test changes come into force later this month (March 2013), as new European requirements on roadworthiness, reflecting advances in technology, take effect.
VOSA Testing
Animal feeds manufacturer HST Feeds has added a four-axle Volvo FM Tridem to its busy fleet of eight trucks.
Rigids
A two-year contract renewal with Mars has been agreed by Fowler Welch. The ambient and chilled goods service provider will continue to run a dedicated operation from two locations in the Midlands and Greater London.
Finance & Leasing
Network Rail, the organisation responsible for running, maintaining and developing the majority of Britain's railway infrastructure, is adding 29 Iveco Daily 4x4s to its support fleet.
Off RoadersStagecoach Group has announced the appointment of Gregor Alexander as a non-executive director of the company.
People
The country's largest independent traffic management company, which says it operates in one of the most demanding environments for road-based vehicles, has appointed ATS Euromaster to help look after its tyres.
Tyres & Retreads
Dunlop Motorsport has purchased 15 Mercedes-Benz Actros tractor units, as fleet replacements.
Tractor UnitsVolvo Bus has appointed Nick Page as managing director for the UK and Ireland, succeeding Steve Dewhurst, who retired at the end of February. Page has been with the Volvo Group for 17 years, having joined from HSBC in 1995. He held key roles in Volvo's UK truck and finance businesses before joining Volvo Bus in 2001, where he rose to coach sales director.
People
One of the stars of this week's (4 March 2013) Geneva Motor Show will be a new concept vehicle for the transporter market, courtesy of Volkswagen.
Electric Vehicles
Isuzu Truck (UK) has signed a deal with Isuzu Motors Japan, which will acquire the total shareholding in the British operation.
Dealerships
A total of 15,670 logistics-based apprenticeships started in England in 2011—12, according to provisional figures from Skills for Logistics (SfL) – a 29% increase on the corresponding figure for 2010—11.
Apprenticeships