News - Page 1511

A brand new centre in Hatfield, a supremely loyal staff and a focus on customer service that is little short of extraordinary – Isuzu Truck UK has its sights firmly set on growth.

BCA has extended its highly successful internet-based selling platform LiveOnline to the wider LCV market featuring commercials direct from LeasePlan, BT Fleet and Peugeot.

While the exceptional highs seen earlier in the year cast ripples of concern throughout the industry, Manheim reports that a more even temperature has been restored which will see the LCV market healthy and strong through the autumn and winter months.

The latest price information from BCA’s Pulse Commercial Vehicle Report shows that LCV values continue at record levels in Quarter 3, 2007.

If so, it could be worth less and nigh on impossible to sell. Alex Wright, of Manheim Auctions, has some timely tips for removing decals.

Driving the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Safety Van is an amazing experience – not only for the myriad of safety features that it contains but because, looking rather like flying banana in bright yellow paint and big decals, everyone turns round and stares.

Your vans may have anti-lock brakes to help keep them safe – but do your drivers know how to use them?

Go-faster stripes, twin exhaust pipes, alloy wheels – what on earth has happened to Britain’s favourite workhorse?

The latest vehicle to put itself up for Fleet Van long-term scrutiny is this Citroën Relay, sporting a jaunty coat of cherry red paint.

The phrase ‘one-stop-shop’ has become a bit of a hackneyed one of late – but back in 1995 when Ford launched a range of niche commercial vehicles under that moniker, it was a new and exciting concept.

With a new Ducato heavy panel van and Doblo Cargo launched last year – and now a fresh Scudo appearing in April – it’s been a busy time for the CV lads at Fiat of late.

The numberplate of our test vehicle (almost) says it all. H13UGE is about as big as vans get up to 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight.

Some light panel vans I could mention suffer terribly in the looks department in high roof format.

The new Nissan Cabstar and its twin brother the Renault Maxity are unique in their sector – they are, as far as I can judge, the only vehicles that have had some degree of thought put into the styling of their exterior.

Fleet managers are being urged to improve the quality of their fleet safety data in order to draw effective lessons from benchmarking their levels of work-related road safety against other companies.

TLS Vehicle Rental has launched a new product called SatVan, which can be fitted to any TLS van and provides fleet operators with the ability to track a range of operational factors online.

A jargon-free booklet explaining the recent changes to benefit-in-kind (BIK) taxation on vans provides fleet operators with a comprehensive and impartial guide to the business risks and financial implications associated with the new legislation.

Navman Wireless has integrated its vehicle tracking technology with the Navman in-vehicle satellite navigation system to launch the industry’s first ‘accept and go’ tracking and navigation product for fleets.

Masternaut has achieved Thatcham Category 5 for its vehicle tracking system. Category 5 ensures the highest level of police response in the case of vehicle theft.

The Freight Best Practice programme has launched a new free guide, Telematics for Efficient Road Freight Operations.

Wales & West Utilities, the gas distribution business in Wales and the South West of England responsible for around 34,000 km of gas pipeline, has appointed DigiCore to provide an advanced telematics-based vehicle tracking solution.

American-based telematics specialist Trimble has launched a range of wireless fleet productivity solutions for the UK commercial vehicle market.

The introduction of GPS tracking has gone a long way to helping fleet managers get a clearer picture of driver behaviour through reporting on speed – but there is more to safe driving that just holding off on the revs.

The Miles Consultancy is set to help company van drivers reduce their tax risk through the use of its mileage capture system.

Telematics solutions provider Minorplanet Systems has enhanced its MIgreenlight product portfolio with the launch of its latest generation Data Collection Unit (DCU).

In the last of his series of articles RORY CLARKE, managing director of Rix Biodiesel, looks at how fuel cards can help save costs and help save the planet too

Proposals have been launched by the Environment Agency and WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) aiming to cut regulatory red-tape so that waste vegetable oil from places like chip shops can be processed and used in engines more easily.

Nearly 4,000 Lexus cars sold in the UK are being recalled for repairs due to concerns about faulty fuel pipes.

Fleet managers can now record their drivers’ behaviour during an accident, helping to improve driver safety and performance.

Vauxhall's replacement for the Vectra, the Insignia is to be revealed at the British International Motor Show in London in July.