The Department for Transport (DfT) is asking for comments about proposed changes to law and guidance about who can operate public service vehicles (PSVs) without a PSV licence. Since 1985, all community transport groups that are operating on a not-for-profit basis have been able to apply for permits to carry passengers in a bus or minibus without first holding the Public Service Vehicle operator’s licence (PSV licence) that would otherwise be required.
Bus & Coach
Acumen Automotive Logistics and Lohr Automotive are nearing completion of a £500,000 refurbishment of 20 vehicle transporters, following a staggered maintenance programme to minimise downtime.
Car Transporters
Volvo Trucks has donated a used FH tractor unit to Transaid, which the charity will use in Uganda for its professional driver training project.
Tractor Units
The government has announced 20 local authorities that have each won a share of £20 million as part of the next tranche from the Clean Bus Technology Fund.
Emissions Control
Jay Ahmed joined truck hire group Ryder’s apprentice programme in 2013 and graduated three years later. He was shortlisted for the Apprentice of the Year in the engineering and manufacturing category of the Asian Apprenticeship Awards 2017, and is a finalist in the Apprentice of the Year category of the 2018 Semta Skills Awards. He’s due to complete his HNC in automotive engineering this year. This is his story, in his own words.
Apprenticeships
Civil engineering contractor Midwest Plant of Brecon, South Wales has taken delivery of a new Volvo FH16-750 tractor, after “better than expected” performance of its previous three-year-old FH12 unit.
Axles
Bodybuilder and converter CoolKit has set up a new aftersales department with a nationwide network of mobile refrigeration engineers to meet growing business demand.
Temperature Controlled Vehicles
Piling equipment supplier Piletec has taken delivery of five new Isuzu Forward 7.5-tonne rigids, replacing its first Isuzu vehicles which have been in use for four years.
Rigids
Jason Williams Removals, a Carmarthenshire-based relocation and storage firm, has delayed the purchase of a new Ekeri rigid body because, says the company, even though its existing Ekeri unit is over seven years old, there is not one good reason to replace it.
Bodies & Bodywork
DB Schenker, MAN Truck & Bus and Hochschule Fresenius university of applied sciences are deploying networked trucks for the first time in a practical application in the German logistics industry.
Driver / People Management
Logistics business Howard Tenens has taken delivery of three double-deck longer semi-trailers (LSTs) from Tiger Trailers for its contract with Toolstation, a supplier of tools and accessories to the trade.
Longer Semi-Trailers
Bus drivers are the UK’s most loved professional drivers, noted for their safe and considerate driving, while van drivers are the least popular.
Road Safety