The UK's road transport sector is making inroads to a greener future, driven by consistently applied carbon reduction policy – but truck makers need to do more to catch up with bus and coach manufacturers.
Bus & Coach
Logistics operator Howard Tenens has opened its fourth compressed natural gas (CNG) filling station, in Swindon – the largest CNG station to be built by a private transport operator in the UK.
Alternative Fuels
Waste management business GD Environmental Services is expanding its 37-strong fleet with four Mercedes Arocs trucks, two of which are already in service.
Rigids
Telematics provider Masternaut has released the MT400 hub, designed to boost connectivity and data acquisition for its Connect platform.
Telematics
The government has today (11 July) given the green light to 44 new sustainable transport schemes, which will receive funding totally £440 million.
Emissions
Dealer Northside Truck & Van has become one of the first three Mercedes-Benz franchisees to secure the manufacturer's Van ProCenter accreditation.
Light Commercial Vehicles
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has launched a special edition of its Transporter van to celebrate the vehicle's 60th anniversary in the UK.
Light Commercial Vehicles
Arla Foods is trialling new technology from Carrier Transicold, which saves diesel and cuts carbon emissions by using power from the refrigeration unit to collect raw milk into the combination trailer.
Temperature Controlled Vehicles
BT Openreach has taken delivery of 1,800 Fiat Doblò Cargo Maxi vans, which are being put into operation transporting its engineering team around the UK to expand the high-speed fibre broadband network.
Light Commercial Vehicles
The number of gas-powered vehicles in Europe could reach 17 million by 2020, representing an increase from 0.5% to 5% of all vehicles, according to European fleet figures.
Alternative FuelsIan Jones, a director of Backhouse Jones and a leading transport lawyer, has joined the governing body of the Society of Operations Engineers (SOE), the umbrella organisation of the Institute of Road Transport Engineers (IRTE). Jones specialised in representing PCV and HGV operators early in his legal career, before co-founding Backhouse Jones in 2000.
People
Water company Affinity Water has signed an exclusive deal with Ford for commercial vehicles and cars, in a change to its current policy of sourcing vehicles from several manufacturers.
Light Commercial Vehicles