Commercial fleet briefs: Latest industry news from Webfleet, Schmitz Cargobull, DP World, U-Drive, Fix Auto, Snap, Queclink and Rix

Rix strikes tanker fleet deal with Daf

Rix Petroleum has invested almost £2 million in 10 Daf tankers, taking its national fleet past the 100-vehicle mark.

The trucks will initially work in the company’s heartland of Hull and East Yorkshire, delivering agricultural and commercial fuels to farms and businesses across the region, and domestic heating oil to households.

Over time, however, some will be dispatched to the company’s other 15 depots across the UK, either to extend the fleet in those areas or to replace older tankers.

Rix Petroleum managing director, Duncan Lambert, said the tankers would be fitted out with the latest technology in Santander, Spain, by family company Cobo.

He said: “Essentially, we buy the chassis from Daf, and these are then loaded on to a boat and shipped to Spain where they are made into Rix trucks by Cobo.

“Cobo put the tanker onto the chassis, install up-to-date metering systems, eight CCTV cameras around the vehicle, and a computer system that directly communicates with our delivery software.

“The tankers are also branded up with our colours while they are there.

“Once this is completed, they’re put back on a boat to be shipped to the UK and arrive in Immingham, which is where we pick them up.”

The tankers have a capacity of 18,600 litres over five compartments, meaning they can carry a range of different fuels in a single load.

Uptonsteel takes delivery of custom-built curtainsiders

Uptonsteel has added four bespoke Schmitz Cargobull trailers to its fleet, improving the capabilities of its nationwide, next day steel distribution service.

The SCS Coil curtainsider semi-trailers are custom-made for the business’ work collecting heavy steel coils from docks and unloading at its Leicestershire headquarters where they are processed into steel sheets before being delivered to customers across the UK.

Rob Wynne, operations manager at Uptonsteel, said: “The Schmitz Cargobull trailers are proving to be the perfect solution for us, with improved payload capability and reduced fuel consumption.

“We bought our first Schmitz Cargobull trailer last year, which we were very impressed with. They have been true to their word, with every trailer arriving exactly how they said it was going to be.”

DP World raises cash incentive for switch from road to rail

DP World is increasing its financial incentive by almost 50% to £100 for customers taking advantage of its ‘Modal Shift Programme’.

The scheme was introduced in September last year and is designed to increase the attractiveness of intermodal rail for customers through carefully considered financial incentives.

The Modal Shift Programme, which is being trialled at DP World Southampton for 12 months, initially offered £70 to customers who move import-laden containers via rail to a railhead within 140 miles of the Southampton logistics hub.

John Trenchard, UK commercial and supply chain director at DP World, said: “We are delighted with the Modal Shift Programme’s success so far.

“The increase in incentive will provide our customers with a welcome boost to their financial and sustainability ambitions and further support the UK Government’s ambitions to achieve a 75% growth in freight carried by rail by 2050.

“This is particularly important at a time when the pressure to manage costs, maintain reliability and improve speed has never been greater for our customers.”

Since the announcement of the Modal Shift Programme, rail services uptake at Southampton have increased from 21% (January to June) to 27% (September to December) last year, particularly across the Midlands rail network.

This uptake has been bolstered by the reintroduction of a daily rail service from Southampton to South Wales, along with the implementation of final mile deliveries using electric vehicles.

U-Drive secures supplier status on key government framework

U-Drive is to ramp up its focus on public sector vehicle hire after being named as a supplier on Crown Commercial Service’s (CCS) Vehicle Hire Solutions framework, the trading fund and executive agency of the Cabinet Office.

The family-owned company has been awarded a place on the Vehicle Hire Solutions framework and named as a supplier on Lot 1 and Lot 2, enabling its use by public sector bodies in key sectors such as central government, health, and local government as well as the UK emergency services.

U-Drive has a network of locations throughout Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire, Somerset, Devon, Glamorgan and Manchester.

U-Drive director Mark Hamblin said: “For more than 40 years, U-Drive has forged strong partnerships with local authorities including Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council and West Sussex County Council, water companies, construction contractors, housing associations and education bodies, and we are excited to have the opportunity to further extend our services across the public sector and offer both the quality and value.”

Public sector bodies now have access to U-Drive’s 3,700-strong portfolio of vehicles for short or long-term hire.

The company’s fleet includes electric, petrol and diesel vehicles, from small cars up to 3.5 tonne commercial vehicles, including Tippers, E-Transit vans and specialist vehicles fully fitted with accessories and Chapter 8.

Fix Auto UK’s first LCV centre open for business

Fix Auto Basingstoke owner Dale Morris has opened his second repair centre and the first within Fix Auto UK’s network solely dedicated to repairing vans, LCVs and motorhomes.

Work to transform the new 15,000 sq ft repair centre started in the first week of December and it was optimistically hoped the first repaired vehicles would roll out of the new facility by the end of January.

However, even though the project suffered inevitable teething troubles, his two oversized spraybooths were commissioned on January 22 and the first repaired vehicles have been completed.

Morris said: “Thanks to the detailed and meticulous planning prior to getting the keys to the building, as soon as we were able to set to work we did and the team around me have been fantastic.

“They’ve realised the potential of the project and really have gone above and beyond what you’d normally expect and have worked tirelessly to help develop the new site.”

Along with the bespoke oversized spraybooths designed by Morris to specifically accommodate vans, LCVs and even large motorhomes, he has installed a new IT and security systems and a raft of new equipment.

Queclink launches AI-powered dashcam for all-in-one fleet telematics

Queclink Wireless Solutions says it has launched a dashcam to meet the diverse and changing needs of the fleet marketplace in the UK.

The CV200 offers AI-driven video functionality and telematics, alongside the ability to add a secondary camera and integrate with the vehicle’s communication system, to deliver a video telematics hardware solution.

“The compact and feature-rich design of the CV200 makes it an ideal camera solution for a wide range of fleet and video telematics requirements,” explained Vernon Bonser, UK sales director at Queclink Wireless Solutions.

“It is AI-enabled, for those looking for ADAS and DSM functionality, while the optional CAN bus integration offers true telematics functionality. The configurability of the device means the device can be adapted to meet the precise needs of the fleet manager, the driver, and the business.”

The CV200 can be used as a standalone forward-facing device or combined with a secondary driver, rear or load camera for added visibility.

It can also be paired with a smart DMS camera to assess the driver's state of awareness and send an alert if distractions or drowsiness are identified, while the built-in ADAS functionality can detect tailgating as well as forward and pedestrian collisions.

CAN bus integration provides information on vehicle status including odometer reading, fuel level, engine speed and temperature, and fault codes.

In addition, a door sensor can be used to detect open and close status, making it possible to trigger the recording of loading and unloading or unauthorised access.

Snap now available on entire Moto network

Truck drivers can now use their Snap Account at every Moto service area in the UK. 

With the remaining 14 locations now available to Snap Account drivers, it brings the total to 53 Moto services after the partnership was launched last year - providing almost 3,000 extra truck parking spaces to Snap customers. 

Myra McPartlin, head of commercial sales at Snap, said: “Drivers and fleets have both positively reacted and told us how much they enjoy being able to pay for their truck parking and washing sessions at Moto locations - connecting even more fleet journeys from depot to destination.”

Drivers can also pay for their meal vouchers at all Moto locations with Snap Account and refuel after a long day on the road.

Drivers can get their vouchers from WH Smith after paying for parking at the Snap Payment Terminal. 

VisionTrack appointed by KCom to enhance fleet safety

VisionTrack has been chosen by KCom as their safety camera partner for the next five years.

The partnership will see KCom’s 180 strong fleet fitted with front and rear facing cameras with ADAS functionality to enhance driver safety and reduce incidents.

Matt Munford, fleet manager at KCom, said: “We’re delighted to be establishing our partnership with VisionTrack, a true leader in their field, following a comprehensive review process. We were impressed with the team’s approach to our current challenges and their technology speaks for itself.”

John Crawford, head of strategic accounts at VisionTrack, added: “We’d like to welcome KCom and are looking forward to working with the team to help them meet their road risk strategy.

“Our aim is to always help fleets improve driving behaviours and general best practice, which will ultimately help keep our roads safer and save lives.”

Webfleet Tachograph Manager gains DVSA approval as part of earned recognition scheme

Webfleet Tachograph Manager has achieved approved IT supplier status from the Driver Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) as part of its earned recognition scheme.

The endorsement for Tachograph Manager’s driver hours KPI reporting, an integral element of Webfleet, Bridgestone Mobility Solutions’ fleet management platform, underlines its robust safety and compliance capabilities, says Beverley Wise, Webfleet regional director for Bridgestone Mobility Solutions.

“As an integral part of Webfleet, our solution simplifies compliance management, allowing businesses to focus on what they do best while ensuring road safety and regulatory adherence,” she explained.

“We are thrilled with this accreditation from DVSA, which is a testament to the solution’s design and functionality, tailored to meet the stringent demands of modern fleet management.”

Fleet businesses that participate in the earned recognition scheme can leverage Tachograph Manager to easily share driver hours KPI reports with the DVSA.