The Freight Transport Association has announced that GreenRoad, a leader in driver performance and road safety management, is the latest partner of the association’s innovative Van Excellence scheme.

GreenRoad is designed to significantly reduce crash incidents and cut fuel consumption by enhancing driver performance while behind the wheel and a typical GreenRoad customer sees up to a 10% reduction in fuel consumption and emissions, as well as a 50% reduction on collision costs.  

The Van Excellence scheme aims to raise standards and improve the image of the UK’s growing van sector and includes a tough accreditation system and a strict code of practice. It is backed by many household names and is a standard set by van operators for use by van operators, formalising “best working” practices already used by leading companies in the commercial vehicle sector.  

Mark Cartwright, FTA’s Van Project Manager, said:

“We are delighted to have GreenRoad on board as partners of Van Excellence.  As leaders in driver performance and safety management they bring a huge amount of value to the scheme in terms of experience and expertise, and their support is invaluable.”

For further information on the Van Excellence scheme visit www.fta.co.uk

The Freight Transport Association (FTA) has commented on the forthcoming toll rise for the Severn Crossing which will see prices for lorries increase by an extra 90 pence in the New Year. The FTA has condemned the decision made by the Severn River Crossing PLC (SRC), who built the bridge, to increase the charge for hauliers from £17.20 to £18.10. The Severn crossing is a vital trade corridor and the FTA is concerned about the impact on businesses on both sides of the river.

Ian Gallagher, FTA’s Policy Manager for Wales, said,”Severn tolls already cost companies many thousands of pounds a month; this latest price hike will make life a lot tougher for hauliers who cross England into south Wales and comes at a time when companies are already struggling in the face of higher fuel costs. In an industry with notoriously tight profit margins, road freight operators often have no choice but to pass their costs on to the customer, which stokes inflation and is certainly not good news in a faltering economy”.

The organisers of the 2010 Commercial Vehicle Operator Show 2010 are very optimistic about their exhibitor figures with over 250 firm bookings for the event, with 51 also exhibiting for the first time. The event will be held between the 13th to the 15th April 2010 at the NEC in Birmingham.

Nick Jones, Chief Executive of the Society of Operations Engineers (SOE) one of the three show partners said,”This is tremendous news. The past 12 months have been particularly difficult for the UK road freight industry.Those who have been sufficiently resilient to the recent financial storm will emerge leaner, fitter, more cost-effective and of course more cost-efficient than ever before”. 

For further information visit www.cvoperatorshow.com

A new satellite navigation unit has been designed specifically for lorries making it possible for trucks to avoid narrow roads, low bridges and unsuitable routes. The new unit, the TomTom GO 7000 truck navigation solution, is available from the Freight Transport Association (FTA) and costs £379 plus VAT or the SD car on its own costs £139 plus VAT.

All drivers have to do is enter their vehicle’s weight and dimensions and the unit will then provide information on clearance heights, speed restrictions and other problematic obstacles. Driver’s can also make corrections to their map with a map share function and the sat-nav solution can be adapted to suit a variety of different size vehicles.