Blog posts for 2012

Quashing the August 3ppl duty rise in fuel is vital for UK growth

If businesses are to have the confidence to expand, they need consumers that are prepared to spend their hard earned income. Any increase in fuel duty…

Breaches of drivers’ hours – an inconvenient truth?

The latest figures from VOSA on their roadside inspections makes interesting reading. In July, Aug and Sept 2012 52,186 vehicle inspections were carried out. This is a…

Have your say on speed limits for HGVs

The maximum speed limit for HGVs over 7.5 tonnes on single carriageway roads is currently 40 miles per hour.  Whilst the speed limit for smaller HGVs…

Hands free compliance – but is it safe?

Drivers making telephone calls using a hands-free kit are just as distracted as those on handheld devices according to research recently conducted by Which? Unsurprisingly they…

Digital driver cards and your responsibilities.

If you are a HGV or PSV driver and holder of a digital driver card you need to be aware of your responsibilities. If you are…

Want to be left alone by VOSA? – IRTE Conference 13 Sept 2012

The IRTE Conference on 13 September 2012 at the Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon focused on strategies for cost effective fleet management and operations. The conference included…

Foreign truck drivers to pay £10 a day to use British roads – Be careful what you wish for.

The Department for Transport have revealed plans for new legislation to charge foreign truck £10 a day to use British roads by 2015.  The new Transport…

Driver CPC – Take advantage now.

Professional bus and coach drivers have 364 days left to complete their 35 hours of periodic training needed for their Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC). …

Government cut pump prices by 5p litre.

Unfortunately you need to live in France to be able to take advantage of this. But it does show that some countries recognise that the increasing…

Tachograph reports help Industrial Tribunal dismiss fraud case

The recent case of Brian Yeardley Continental’s successful defence of a “whistleblowing” case brought by a disgruntled ex-employee highlights the importance of having your tachograph and…

RHA call for Drivers to go to jail for breaking drivers’ hours rules

The Road Haulage Association (RHA) has recently called for tougher action to be taken against truck drivers who falsify their driving records.  Drivers’ hours infringements and…

Will HGV sensors protect cyclists?

Recently an influential group of MPs said hauliers should be encouraged to fit new sensors to their fleet to protect cyclists. The Transport Select Committee (TSC)…

Motorway madness for UK Hauliers?

The Association of British Drivers (ABD) has recently commented that the Government’s desire to extract the maximum capacity from the motorway network at the lowest possible…

If you don’t know what an éthylotest is right now you soon will

Any vehicle travelling through France from July 1st 2012 will be required to carry a disposable breathalyser or ‘éthylotest’ or alcometer. The device must be un-used…

Sat Nav – A help or hindrance for professional drivers?

New research from Lancaster University and Royal Holloway, University of London, reveal using satellite navigation systems can reduce drivers’ performance. A series of experiments were conducted…

3ppl increase in fuel duty cancelled – One small step for Road Transport Operators?

Road transport operators will be giving a cautious welcome to the cancellation of the 3p per litre fuel duty increase planned for January 2013. The Chancellor…