A new trend to counter the formation of ice on roads in winter is the spreading of liquid salt – brine – but not everyone is convinced. Brian Wall looks at how best to prevent salt build-up on commercial vehicles to help preserve chassis and body components
Vehicle Washing Equipment
Bitter winter weather will soon seek out any weakness in a truck's starter battery and exploit it. Result? The engine will refuse to fire up and neither the vehicle nor its cargo will be going anywhere any time soon, writes Steve Banner
Batteries
Augmented reality (AR) is gathering more and more momentum, particularly within vehicle workshops and factories, as a means of adding a layer of computer-generated material to the real-world view of the operator, superimposing images and feeding in audio information directly. Lucy Radley reports
Maintenance
The biggest improvement of MAN’s new D15 over its predecessor is a reduction in weight: the D15 saves 230kg over the D20 while still offering similar power and torque. At the same time, all of this has been done while improving fuel efficiency by, it claims, around 2% over the previous offer. Lucy Radley tries it out
Engine/Transmission Management
Although known particularly for its Transit van in the UK, and of course for its passenger car range, a Ford joint venture launched the F-Max 4x2 tractor at last year’s IAA show in Hanover, Germany. Now TIP Trailer Services has signed up to offer maintenance to operators who run into trouble in Europe – including the UK. By Will Dalrymple
Tractor Units
Truck fleets are constantly looking to save fuel and boost efficiency, and roof spoilers are one way of achieving this goal. John Challen looks at what’s available and what difference they can make
Tractor Units
The irtec technician qualification scheme has helped to raise standards and safety across the commercial vehicle world. Its expansion – which was never a certainty, particularly in the early days – is one of the SOE’s biggest achievements
Irtec
A number of electric roads are currently in testing, mostly in Sweden, Germany and China. Invited by a Swedish Transport Administration official, Tim Wynne-Jones reports from Frankfurt’s ERS conference in May 2019
Electric Vehicles
Using the lightest element in the universe, hydrogen, produces only energy and water vapour, which is why some see it as the future of fuel in the long term. Publicly funded bus trials have been overcoming some of its issues – including price, reports Will Dalrymple
Alternative Fuels
Engineering is not enough. Political and fiscal incentives will decide the fortunes of hybrid trucks, argues Richard Simpson
Vehicle Electrics & Electronics
Evidence from a parliamentary road safety evidence session in July has underlined the persistent danger of drivers using mobile phones (www.is.gd/vunego). Mobile phone use contributed to 773 casualties, including 43 fatalities, in road traffic collisions in 2017.
Road Safety
Grundon Waste Management has purchased two new waste collection vehicles for its Bristol depot, supplied by Refuse Vehicle Solutions (RVS).
Municipal Vehicles