Motor Wheel Service Distribution (MWSD) will stamp a new Chevron mark onto every steel wheel to assist operators in choosing quality products, while aiding traceability. The imprint, taken from the company’s logo, has been introduced to help truck, trailer, bus and coach fleets identify superior quality wheels that were sourced by the company.
ATS Euromaster says the cold weather tyre sales have continued to grow in the UK nearly four years after becoming the first national tyre retailer to launch a dedicated winter tyre service for UK fleets. Demand for car, SUV and van winter products increased by 14 per cent in 2012 according to the tyre service provider, and this figure is on track for further double-digit growth in 2013. With a particularly cold late autumn forecast, ATS-E says demand could climb even more sharply. Were this to happen, the UK could see its stock of winter tyres depleted quicker, even ahead of the winter months.
Winter is a dangerous time to be on the roads even for the most experienced of drivers. However, TTC, the truck and trailer component distribution arm of the Unipart Group, says it has the essential winter products and tips to help you stay safe. The company advises that, before you drive, you should ensure that you have the essential winter products in case you get caught in the snow. Some of the products that TTC offer include: high visibility jackets, rock salt, and traditional brown rock salt for winter de-icing, heavy duty snow shovels – both small and large, salt bins in 110ltr and 130ltr sizes and snow chains.
Texa has announced it will be exhibiting this year at the Coach & Bus Show 2013 and wants to use this opportunity to discuss in detail with operators their current requirements for service and diagnostic tools. As TEXA provide a range of OE diagnostic tools for large coach manufactures, their Multibrand coverage is ideal for workshops maintaining mixed vehicle fleets.
On 19 July, the first all-new ContiTread licensed retreading facility in the US officially opened. The DLS Retreading plant, located in Fort Mill, South Carolina, will serve the retreading market in its home state with truck tyres retreaded with ContiTread flat pre-cure treads, and will also offer emergency road service, truck tyre service and new Continental and General-branded tyres. The 72,000 square foot (6,689 square metre) facility includes a 16,000 square foot retreading unit as well as 11 service docks. DLS Retreading is expected to employ 50 workers within four years.
South Wales company Hicks Logistics settled on Hankook tyres as its preferred choice over ten years ago, using the Korean manufacturer’s AH22+ and DH05 tyres on its Scania, Volvo and Mercedes tractor units and the TH22 wide singles, and TH10 for the low loaders, on its trailers. Hankook's new Alphatread retread tyres are set to be tested on the fleet and Hankook expects to be able to deliver increased value for money as a result. Hankook’s service has also been key to the continued association with Hicks; the company has its own dedicated tyre fitter at the head office, and is able to manage its own tyres in the local area. However, when working throughout the UK Hankook Truck Masters are relied on to service the fleet.
Bridgestone Americas has launched a new premium drive radial in North America, the M760 Ecopia. The tyre is primarily designed for use in on-highway, long-haul and regional service. It also can be applied for pick-up and delivery service. According to Bridgestone, the M760 Ecopia works well on single and tandem axle trucks, making the tyre ideal for a broad range of fleet applications.
Simon Tattersall has been promoted to a new position leading the company’s growing portfolio of national fleet business, encompassing its largest car, van and truck customers. Previously head of national truck, Tattersall is now titled head of national accounts. He will be responsible for a team of 10 national account managers currently managing more than £120 million worth of fleet business annually. ATS-E’s key national accounts range from major leasing, rental and utilities fleets to some of the country’s most recognised logistics operators, including Eddie Stobart, TNT and Hoyer Group.
Kwik-Fit showed its new range of light commercial vehicle fleet initiatives at the CV Show 2013, highlighting its mobile fleet’s LCV tyre repair and placement capability; its expanded range of premium, mid-range and budget tyres; a plan to expand availability of MoTs on Class 7 vans; and a new Kwik Fit Drive card, for LCV and car fleets, with supermarket fuel and vehicle breakdown and recovery benefits, as well as Kwik-Fit charge reductions.
At the CV Show 2013, ATS Euromaster invited truck fleet operators to view its Inflation Report 2013, a free guide produced exclusively for the show. ATS-E said the guide was designed to show why fleets in 2013 should pay closer attention to their tyres than ever before.
Reporting on the past winter, ATS Euromaster group sales director Peter Fairlie says the fast-fit network ordered significantly more winter tyres than a year earlier.
Kwik-Fit Fleet has launched a new card aimed at SME sector light commercial and car fleets. Called Kwik-Fit Drive, the card replaces the Kwik-Fit Business Drive Card and can be used to purchase fuel and obtain vehicle breakdown and recovery, while it also provides fleets access to a range of Kwik-Fit services at competitive prices. Kwik-Fit Drive will be officially launched in June.
Bridgestone’s fuel economy focused Ecopia truck tyre range has added a dedicated trailer product to its ranks for the first time: the new Ecopia H-Trailer 001. Bridgestone says the tyre has been designed to achieve increased fuel saving in highway operations, courtesy of improved rolling-resistance and wet grip performance. The manufacturer adds that the Ecopia H-Trailer 001 has strong mileage and durability characteristics.
According to figures published by the Rubber Manufacturers Association, or RMA, US tyre shipments in 2012 amounted to 284 million units. This is unchanged from the previous year – the RMA says a ten per cent increase in original equipment shipments offset a nearly two per cent decrease in replacement shipments, and it states this absence of overall growth can primarily be attributed to a “cautious consumer as well as economic uncertainties in both the commercial and consumer sectors of the replacement market.”
With the recent launch of the ST:01 Neverending Energy line, Pirelli says its ‘01’ commercial vehicle tyre range is now complete. The 01 portfolio now covers the ‘R’ segment (medium to long range), ‘W’ (winter tyres), ‘H’ (long range) and ‘G’ (for mixed road and construction site use).
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