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”.

ASDA has just signed up to the voluntary scheme to measure and reduce carbon emissions specifically from lorries and vans. The Freight Transport Association’s (FTA) Logistics Carbon Reduction Scheme (LCRS) represents around 50,000 commercial vehicles run by 55+ businesses and ASDA’s signing is seen as a major step forward in the scheme.

ASDA will supply fuel usage, fleet and activity data along with the other 55 businesses in the LCRS, to try and paint an accurate picture of the carbon emissions impact of the logistics sector. The UK has carbon emission targets that commit us to actual cuts in carbon emissions, however the aim of the LCRS focusses on producing less carbon per unit of resource of activity by sharing best practise and learning from all companies across the logistics sector.

Areas of progress to date include driver fuel efficiency training, use of biofuels and increases in vehicle carrying capacities. As fuel accounts for around 40% of all the costs of running a truck or van fleet, this seems a great idea to help all commercial vehicle operators reduce costs and their carbon emission footprint.

The scheme is still open to FTA members and non-members, so if you run a fleet of commercial vehicles and want to find out further information, or join (it’s free of charge), then visit the FTA carbon reduction website.

The Freight Transport Association has been asking commercial vehicle freight operators in the parcel, 3PL, retail and bakery transport sectors to provide evidence to support its call to protect the current systems, which allow UK hauliers the right to operate trailers above four metres.

The EC’s proposals threaten to change the existing rules (to comply with certain safety and environmental standards) and to restrict the height to 4 metres. However following intensive lobbying, the EC announced it would consider raising this to 4.88 metres, but the FTA thinks this is not enough.

Andy Mair, FTA’s Head of Engineering Policy, said,”All the evidence points to the fact that many significant operators in the UK use trailers that would be outlawed if EC proposals went ahead; the cost saving and CO2 benefits of higher trailers would be lost too. The truth is that there is a substantial chunk of our logistics sector that operate trailers over 4.88 metres.Ideally we would like the height limit for all trailers, not just double-deck, to be set at least 4.95″.

The 16th edition of the international road transport guide is an essential tool for any fleet operator. The Freight Transport Association guide includes information to help UK hauliers understand the complex and sometimes confusing regulations across the EU and beyond.

The new 2011 edition has all the latest information on public holidays, weekend lorry bans, toll prices and other essential facts for fleet operators of heavy or light goods vehicles. If you are in the international membership of the FTA you will receive a free copy and the cost for non-members is £75 each from www.shop.fta.co.uk.

The Freight Transport Association (FTA) has backed the recent report by the Audit Commission, that recommends local authorities need to adopt greater transparency to promote more proportionate spending on the repair and maintenance of UK roads. Damage to commercial vehicles from poorly maintained roads is costing the industry, as tyres and maintenance typically costs around 10% of the total running costs of a large truck.

Malcolm Bingham, FTA’s Head of Road Network Management Policy, said,”The Audit Commission had indentified that local highways authorities maintain 98% of the coountry’s roads, yet the level of spending on improving road conditions differs widely between them and seems to bear no resemblance to road condition or size of network. This has to change and we support the Commissions’ calls for greater transparency across local authorities both in benchmarking costs and whole-life maintenance plans”.

The Freight Transport Association has condemned the latest fuel duty increase of 0.76 pence per litre that comes into effect on the 1st January 2011. This will be the third rise in fuel duty since April 2010 and puts a further strain on operating costs of UK hauliers.

This fuel duty increase will push diesel prices to within four pence per litre of the all-time highs reached in July 2008, when oil prices were as $145 a barrel.  Diesel represents about 35 per cent of running a truck and this additional burden is likely to be passed onto customers, where possible.

The FTA’s Chief Economist, Simon Chapman, commented,”Diesel is not an optional extra for the industry. It is essential to keep shops stocked and businesses supplied with materials. Rises in fuel commodity prices have already left operators facing diesel prices nine pence per litre higher than a year ago-adding £3,800 per year to the bill of running an articulated truck. This latest fuel duty increase, together with those previously introduce this year will add a further £1,200 per year”.

If you are looking for the cheapest fuel prices in your area click here.

The Freight Transport Association (FTA) has launched the 15th edition of their guide for international road transport operators, which guides you through all the confusing regulations for countries in the EU and beyond.

The new 2010 edition includes updated information on public holidays, weekend lorry bans and toll prices, plus other essential facts for commercial fleet operators. The list of countries covered has been expanded with further information on travel advice, ferry service information, advice on stowaways, cabotage requirements and attestation letters.

The guide costs £55 non-international FTA members, for non-members it is £75 and is available at the FTA shop

www.shop.fta.co.uk

The Freight Transport Association (FTA) has warned about the possible impact on business if the volcanic ash cloud, from Iceland, continues to drift over the UK. Supplies of many goods, such as pharmaceuticals and fresh produce, are likely to be affected as they are reliant on air freight.

Christopher Snelling, FTA’s Head of Global Supply Chain Policy, said: “The longer that UK airspace is closed for business, the greater the damage, not just to businesses here, but also for farmers in the developing countries who rely on exporting their produce to Europe. Their livelihoods are in jeopardy”.

More than one million African rural livelihoods are supported by UK consumption of goods (such as Kenyan green beans) and although air freight accounts for only 0.5% of the UK’s international goods by weight, 25% is by value i.e. pharmaceuticals, luxury items and fresh produce.

Following the recent proposal to scrap tolls on the Humber Bridge moving a step closer, the Freight Transport Association, is demanding the Government show consistency by also considering scrapping the tolls on the Severn Bridge. Transport Minister, Sadiq Khan, has recently announced that he was “seriously considering proposals to scrap or reduce the tolls” across the Humber Estuary.

Ian Gallagher, FTA’s Policy Manager for Wales said,”It is terribly inconsistent of the government to acknowledge the need to take a principled approach to protecting businesses from unfair and uncessary tolls, while blatantly ignoring the huge cost to industry of unabated and seemingly arbitrary price hikes on the Severn crossing”.

Goods vehicles pay more to use the Severn Crossing than they do for using any other bridge crossing and the tolls were recently raised in the New Year by 10 pence per lorry.