Figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show an increase in demand for UK-built commercial vehicles. Britain produced 9,648 vans and trucks in March, representing an uplift of 43.3 per cent over last year. In the first quarter of this year, 23,435 commercial vehicles were produced, marking 19.1 per cent growth following reduced output in 2014.
New research from Go Ultra Low has shown that commercial vehicle operators and fleet managers are missing out on a share of more than £2.6 billion potential fuel savings, accessible by opting for an ultra-low emission van.
Protagonists at this week’s Commercial Vehicle Show have cause to celebrate, as new figures from the SMMT show van and truck registrations have reached a record high. A total of 108,456 vans and trucks were registered in the UK between the start of January and end of March 2015, making it the best quarter on record. This result is particularly remarkable when bearing in mind that only 221,132 commercial vehicles were registered in the whole of 2009. Registrations reached 384,120 units last year – just below the 388,488 registrations recorded in pre-recession 2007 – and demand is expected to remain strong in the months ahead.
Hunter-brand garage equipment distributor Pro-Align has launched the new EasiPush onto the UK market. The EasiPush was developed to help workshops move commercial vehicles a short distance forward in order to carry out the rolling compensation check in the wheel alignment process. The innovative device is now available as a stand-alone tool to help operators manoeuvre vehicles in cramped workshops safely.
Hunter’s new wheel alignment system for commercial vehicles is now available in the UK, and its distributor believes the innovative product is set to help fleets reduce their running and maintenance costs significantly. The Hunter system, available exclusively through Pro-Align, is the first and only CV alignment system on the market today capable of providing live alignment readings on three axles simultaneously, according to the distributor.
Pro-Align will host the UK debut of its new Hunter CV wheel alignment system April’s Commercial Vehicle Show at the NEC, Birmingham. The Hunter garage equipment distributor recently announced its intentions to move into the commercial vehicle sector. It believes Hunter’s equipment will help truck, bus and heavy vehicle fleet operators check their wheel alignment more regularly and easily than ever before. The benefits of this are lower fuel bills and emissions, extended tyre life and improved vehicle safety.
Pro-Align has appointed Brett Hickey to head its recently announced commercial vehicle division. Hickey has more than a dozen years in the commercial vehicle industry, including his most recent role managing the PDI department of one of the largest DAF dealerships in Europe.
Figures for new truck vehicle registrations have revealed 2014 has been a “predictably slow year” as the market continues to feel the effects of the introduction of Euro 6 legislation, according to UK managing director for Continental, David Smith.
Smith, who in 2013 was promoted into a wider European market management role, which now includes Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland, was speaking at Continental’s annual market trends briefing on 5 December. During his presentation he described the results for 2014 as “unsurprising”, due in part to the rush to register Euro 5 models before the legislative cut-off dates. Year-to-date figures released by the SMMT have shown that total registrations for trucks in 2014 are down by nine per cent, with bus and coach registrations also down this year, by three per cent.
Brake, the road safety charity, has expressed disappointment at Government plans to raise the speed limit for large lorries on dual carriageway roads to 60mph, despite serious concerns from a number of road safety groups. The move comes on the back of the Government’s decision to increase the speed limit for HGVs on single carriageway […]
Wheel alignment specialist Pro-Align has announced its intention to offer further support to commercial vehicle operators and tyre suppliers with the creation of a new Commercial Vehicle/Fleet alignment division in 2015. With the planned introduction of a unique, innovative commercial vehicle aligner, Pro-Align aims to make it easier than ever before for truck, bus and […]
UK commercial vehicle production fell by 1,642 units in August as the 2014 calendar saw some plants take additional shutdown, compared to last year, for retooling according to SMMT figures.
MAN and Scania will be cooperating on vehicle gearboxes in the future. As part of this collaboration, from 2016 Scania’s gearbox hardware will be gradually implemented in TGS and TGX series MAN vehicles. MAN will develop the gearbox software for the optimal gear changing strategy. Testing of the first prototype vehicles has already begun. The aim is also to develop the subsequent generation of the current Scania gearbox portfolio together. The details of the cooperation are currently being drawn up.
Checkpoint, purportedly the original manufacturer and developer of the wheel nut indicator, is set to launch two new CV wheel safety and security products at this October’s Brityrex International exhibition in Manchester.
Crispin Turner, previously marketing communications manager at JCB, has joined Goodyear Dunlop UK & Ireland as commercial product marketing manager. Turner, who previously oversaw for the marketing of products in North, South and Central America at JCB, as well as looking after two products globally, joins Goodyear Dunlop to lead its marketing activities across the commercial vehicle business, reporting into UK and Ireland commercial director, Marc Preedy. Adam Stanton who was previously Commercial Product Marketing Manager is taking up a new post as Commercial Product Marketing Manager for EMEA. In this role he will focus specifically on Retread and OTR products reporting into Davide Califano, marketing manager EMEA.
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