Small road sweepers are a growing sector of municipal vehicles, particularly as they are fitted with alternative powertrains. Steve Banner looks over the options
Municipal Vehicles
Bus operators have come up with many ways of keeping the people that work in depots safe around operating buses, reports Will Dalrymple
Health & Safety Legislation
When I hear people say that they inspect their vehicles to MOT standards, I wonder. As the MOT determines minimum standards, does this mean that they are only maintaining their vehicles to the minimum? When you are operating a vehicle, it should always be road-legal. If it is taken off the road at any point, it should, with no preparation, be tested and by rights it should pass.
Road Safety
Electric vehicles are viewed by many as the solution to a lot of transport-related problems. But other technologies – such as hydrogen – are fighting back. By John Challen
Alternative Fuels
Hyundai says that “building a comprehensive hydrogen ecosystem… will lead to a paradigm shift that removes automobile emissions from the environmental equation”. But are hydrogen fuel cell-powered heavy vehicles a realistic proposition, asks Toby Clark
Alternative Fuels
Truck technology is helping drivers keep pedestrians and vulnerable road users safe, reports Lucy Radley
Road Safety
A government review of the heavy vehicle annual test programme has found it to be essentially fit for purpose. It says: “The current system delivers the most fundamental need of customers, enabling vehicles to be tested and kept in service.” But that is not to say that the system was always so, nor that it mightn’t be improved, states the report (available via www.is.gd/elipib)
Bus & Coach
This page is brought to you by specialist transport law firm Backhouse Jones. Its COVID-19 hub is available via www.is.gd/ifogih
Driver / People Management
UTAC CERAM Millbrook has officially opened its new four-wheel drive VTEC (variable temperature emissions chamber) facility, allowing truck engineers to conduct a wider range of powertrain tests on larger vehicles than before. (The new name reflects the operation's new corporate structure; Millbrook Proving Ground merged with French group UTAC CERAM at the end of 2020).
Road Tests
German brake manufacturer Knorr-Bremse has signed a continuation brake supply contract for series production of braking systems and air treatment systems for an unnamed global truck OEM’s European heavy-duty and medium-duty platforms.
Brakes & Braking Systems
The Health and Safety Executive has published an alert warning that users of hazardous goods tanks should visually inspect the pressure/vacuum relief valves fitted to tank containers and road tankers. The inspection should establish if there have been any unauthorised modifications made to the valve, particularly items added to the valve to allow for easier dismantling.
Tankers