Commercial vehicle retreads look set to reach even higher quality standards, following Vacu-Lug Traction Tyres' investment in £150,000 worth of twin-headed, automatic buffing machine for its retread tyre casings.
Tyres & RetreadsFollowing the recent acquisition of Eastbourne Buses and subsequent depot reorganisation, we now have a vacancy for an Engineering Manager at our Birch Road Depot, which operates a mixed fleet of 52 PCV vehicles.
People
Onspot – the automatic tyre chain system used on emergency vehicles – is now being offered for gritters and other essential service trucks.
Road Safety
Contrary to received wisdom around fuel-saving interventions in general, and magnetic devices in particular, Carmarthenshire County Council is reporting remarkable success on a wide range of vehicle types.
Alternative Fuels
If you're wondering what to specify for a specialist vehicle, and how to go about it, it's worth talking to the man who heads up automotive engineering at the massive VT Group (formerly Vosper Thornycroft).
Gearboxes
The uninitiated in our industry regard best practice guides as gospel, because they have been published by a government-supported body. However, the view of more experienced transport engineers is that you can never arrive at best practice, because there is always a new management system or technological advance bound to take you beyond the original targets.
Maintenance
European haulage firm Alcaline has changed its tyre policy across the entire fleet, having completed year-long trials of Michelin's X One MaxiTrailers on the trunk roads between Ashford, Kent and Italy.
Tyres & Retreads
You can almost touch the growing momentum in our transport industry, as not only the manufacturers, but also our institutions, associations and the fleet operators large enough to have corporate social responsibility departments, change up a couple of gears on what they see as a gathering climate change catastrophe.
Alternative Fuels
There might not be a revolution in truck axles and suspensions, but saving weight and cost remain high priorities that can, and are being solved by innovative engineering. Keith Read reports
Axles
While some might consider this the worst time to have a fleet of tippers standing in the yard, now could be the best time to think about buying from a dwindling stock at manufacturers and dealers, writes Dan Gilkes
Off Roaders
Vehicle loading and unloading studies have found the procedures to account for more than 30% of workplace accidents. John Challen finds out what effort is being made to achieve a safer operating environment
Health & Safety Legislation
Inaccurate or poorly interpreted diagnostic data costs vehicle operators, dealerships and workshops time and money. Brian Tinham takes advice on the issues and possibilities with current equipment
Irtec