Accidents can be reduced

Work-Related Traffic Crashes

In the UK there are an estimated up to 150 road deaths and serious injuries a week resulting from crashes involving at work drivers, and more employees are killed and seriously injured on the roads while driving on behalf of their employer than in any other work-related activity.  In 2011 the United Nations will launch… Continue reading »

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Do you always check your mirrors?

HGV Drivers and Cyclists ‘Exchanging Places’

For most cyclists, HGVs are the thing most feared on urban roads. Despite only comprising 5% of traffic, they are involved in about 50% of cyclist deaths each year, and many more serious injuries. The Metropolitan police’s Cycle Task Force are currently running safety events called Exchanging Places to raise awareness of cycle safety. These… Continue reading »

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New Mercedes Commercial Van Launched

The Urban Delivery Van

The latest Mercedes-Benz urban delivery van has been branded the Citan and it was revealed at the Mercedes-Benz Design Center in Sindelfingen during a conference on brand competence and city logistics.  The name Citan is a fusion of the words “city” and “titan,” therefore making it clear that the vehicle is a specialist for city logistics.… Continue reading »

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Vauxhall Commercial Fleet Award Winner

‘Fleet World Honours’

The Fleet World Honours are awarded by the monthly trade publication Fleet World to those fleets, van manufacturers and service organisations that have, in the opinion of the judging panel, achieved the highest possible level of excellence in their sector. In 2011, the annual Fleet World Honours were presented at a ceremony at London’s Royal… Continue reading »

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Parking no Problem

Women Are Better at Parking Than Men

Female drivers are more adept at parking than men, a new study has found. Covert surveillance of car parks across Britain has shown that while women may take longer to park (21 seconds compared with 16 seconds), they are more likely to leave their vehicles in the middle of a bay. Researchers studied parking manoeuvres… Continue reading »

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Work-Related Traffic Crashes HGV Drivers and Cyclists ‘Exchanging Places’ The Urban Delivery Van ‘Fleet World Honours’ Women Are Better at Parking Than Men

Feb
21

Work-Related Traffic Crashes

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Accidents can be reducedIn the UK there are an estimated up to 150 road deaths and serious injuries a week resulting from crashes involving at work drivers, and more employees are killed and seriously injured on the roads while driving on behalf of their employer than in any other work-related activity.

 In 2011 the United Nations will launch a ‘Decade of Action for Road Safety’ with the aim of stabilising and then reducing global road deaths by 2020. Representatives of many of Britain’s safest fleets attended aLondonevent to launch the Decade of Action for Road Safety in the UK. Almost 60 fleets have introduced a wide range of measures to cut road traffic crashes and improve the safety of employees behind the wheel.

 The 11-point United Nations’ declaration supporting the Decade of Action includes encouraging ‘organisations to contribute actively to improving work-related road safety through adopting the use of best practices in fleet management’.

According to Fleet Directory, “GreenRoad will aim to acknowledge and reward Britain’s safest fleet drivers following the launch of a new performance recognition program. Named ‘GreenRoad Fleet Elite’, the program will honour drivers who have been particularly safe and maintained driving performance, granting them Fleet Elite status and a formal certificate of achievement.”

Road crashes are preventable. Follow traffic rules and regulations, use your seat belts, slow down and be more patient, refrain from drink-driving, do not use mobile phones while you are driving and keep your vehicle in good working condition.

Insurance companies take many factors into account to give you a motor trade insurance quote. One of the most important factors is one that you alone control: how safe of a driver you are. If you want to get cheaper chauffeur insurance quotes and pay lower premium rates, improve your driving habits!

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Feb
19

HGV Drivers and Cyclists ‘Exchanging Places’

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For most cyclists, HGVs are the thing most feared on urban roads. Despite only comprising 5% of traffic, they are involved in about 50% of cyclist deaths each year, and many more serious injuries.

Do you always check your mirrors?

The Metropolitan police’s Cycle Task Force are currently running safety events called Exchanging Places to raise awareness of cycle safety. These events allow people to sit in the driver’s seat of a HGV, truck or bus to get a better understanding of what the driver can and can’t see, especially in regards to cyclists on the nearside and directly in front of the vehicle.

Sergeant Simon Castle, in charge of the Cycle Team, said for The Guardian: “The old message is ‘share the road’ but it is difficult to do that if you can’t see the other point of view.”

The Cycle Safety Action Plan sets out a range of actions to improve cycle safety. One initiative is to work with the freight industry to identify the most appropriate cycle safety devices for a variety of heavy goods vehicles.

The Transport for London has completed a technology trial with products designed specifically to alert HGV drivers to the presence of cyclists in close proximity of their vehicles.

Charlie Lloyd, of the London Cycling Campaign, said:

“By far the most hazardous place for a cyclist is way out on the left of a large lorry, 1.5-3 metres away, outside the area seen in the mirrors or picked up by sensors. That is the area that a turning lorry swings into at speed when turning left. To the cyclist the lorry comes out of nowhere, to the driver the cyclist is invisible.”

Are you a safe driver? If so, look for insurance brokers offering discounted rates for chauffeur insurance or HGV insurance now!

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Feb
18

The Urban Delivery Van

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New Mercedes Commercial Van LaunchedThe latest Mercedes-Benz urban delivery van has been branded the Citan and it was revealed at the Mercedes-Benz Design Center in Sindelfingen during a conference on brand competence and city logistics.

 The name Citan is a fusion of the words “city” and “titan,” therefore making it clear that the vehicle is a specialist for city logistics.

 Mercedes-Benz has significantly extended its vans business in recent years. The Citan is adding to the Vario (6.0 to 8.2 tons), Sprinter (3.0 to 5.0 tons), and Vito (2.77 to 3.2 tons) to increase the range of products in the lower weight classes of the van market.

The market launch of the Citan will take place in the autumn of 2012. It will be on show to the general public for the first time in September at the IAA Commercial Vehicles show inHanover.

“We will take advantage of the trend toward city vans, which our brand will be able to exploit thanks to its attractively priced vehicles and the high quality of our products and services. Our typical Mercedes-Benz reliability, 24/7 service, and, last but not least, our great brand image are key selling points as far as our commercial customers are concerned,” said Volker Mornhinweg, Head of Mercedes-Benz Vans.

Mercedes-Benz is the market leader for mid-size and large vans inWestern Europe.

Companies that utilize commercial vans have specific protective insurance needs. You need to be certain that you have the right vehicle insurance before your company puts the van into service.

Need commercial auto insurance to protect your business vehicles? When it comes to low cost commercial van insurance it makes sense to deal with an insurance broker.

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Feb
17

‘Fleet World Honours’

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Vauxhall Commercial Fleet Award WinnerThe Fleet World Honours are awarded by the monthly trade publication Fleet World to those fleets, van manufacturers and service organisations that have, in the opinion of the judging panel, achieved the highest possible level of excellence in their sector.

In 2011, the annual Fleet World Honours were presented at a ceremony at London’s Royal Automobile Club. Vauxhall received a remarkable three titles including the Best Upper Medium Car award for the Insignia, the Editor’s Award for Vauxhall Commercial Vehicles and the Fleet Safety Award for Large Fleets.

The company has introduced a number of initiatives aimed at fleet customers including a three-day test drive scheme and an industry-leading 100,000 mile lifetime warranty program that have resulted in halving the number of road crashes involving vehicles on its 600-strong fleet and a significant cut in annual insurance premiums.

“The Vauxhall Safe Driving Team has worked closely with key stakeholders including its managing director, fleet insurer, trades unions and board directors to develop a robust ‘best practice’ model for managing and monitoring road safety related risk,” said Adrian Walsh, director RoadSafe.

“It is aimed at reducing the collision rate of the fleet, reducing the risk of harm, meeting all relevant legislation, meeting its corporate social responsibility and reducing the direct cost associated with motor collisions,” he added.

Vauxhall Motors has been the second-largest selling car brand in the UK for over two decades. In 2011, Vauxhall outshined their competition with an impressive 60 per cent share of the UK commercial vehicle production. Vivaro-type vans account for 57% of the total industry volume.

If not already insured, look for insurance brokers and make sure to get a commercial van insurance immediately!

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Feb
17

Women Are Better at Parking Than Men

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Female drivers are more adept at parking than men, a new study has found. Covert surveillance of car parks across Britain has shown that while women may take longer to park (21 seconds compared with 16 seconds), they are more likely to leave their vehicles in the middle of a bay.

Researchers studied parking manoeuvres carried out by 2,500 drivers over the course of one month. According to NCP, the study took various aspects of parking, including: technique, accuracy and time taken, to produce a “parking coefficient” score which stands at 13.4 for women and 12.3 for men.

Only 29% of men chose to start “repositioning” the car, while 56% of women found themselves shuffling forward and backwards to try and obtain a better final position.

Women were also found to be better at finding spaces, more accurate in lining themselves up before starting each manoeuvre, and more likely to adopt the instructors’ preferred method of reversing into bays.

Men were shown to be more skilled at driving forwards into spaces and more confident overall, with fewer opting to reposition their car once in a bay.

Parking no Problem

Neil Beeson, a professional driving instructor who devised the experiment, described the results as surprising. “In my experience men have always been the best learners and usually performed better in lessons. However, it’s possible that women have retained the information better. The results also appear to dispel the myth that men have better spatial awareness than women,” the Telegraph quoted Beeson as saying.

If not already insured, look for insurance brokers. If you drive for a living and need to renew your insurance, you should definitely speak to an insurance broker; their knowledge will reveal ways you can save money on your chauffeur insurance policies.

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Feb
17

Eddie Stobart Orders 1000 Scania Trucks

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Eddie Stobart and AW Jenkinson Forest Products have ordered another 1000 trucks from Swedish truck maker Scania in a new joint-procurement agreement.

 In 2010, the two British haulage companies placed an order which at the time represented Scania’s largest ever supply agreement in the UK.

 According to a press release, scheduled for delivery between March 2012 and December 2013, approximately 300 units will enter service in their fleets this year. As with the previous order, the mix of vehicles will comprise mainly Scania R-series tractor units but will also include a significant number of Scania G-series models.

 ”This agreement reflects our on-going satisfaction with Scania and the levels of support provided by the company’s dealer network. Scania’s focus on ongoing development will allow Eddie Stobart to continue to provide sustainable distribution and the usual high levels of service to its customers,” said Stobart Group Chief Operating Officer, William Stobart.

 Scania is a major supplier to British industry of trucks, buses, coaches and engines for industrial and marine applications. In 2011, Scania’s share of the UK heavy truck market was 14% and its combined bus and coach market share amounted to 8.1%.

Plan Insurance provides comprehensive truck insurance for a variety of commercial trucking fleet risks. They will search the majority of leading insurers for you and have an exclusive deal in place with a niche insurer that could save you a significant amount off your premium.

Should you require the cover, Plan Insurance can offer you a comprehensive insurance policy for any driver but they’ll tailor your truck insurance policy to meet your exact needs and keep costs to a minimum. That’s why it makes sense to deal with an insurance broker.

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Feb
16

Single Vehicle Architecture from Vauxhall

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 Vauxhall’s dedicated Special Vehicles Services is the leading supplier to the UK’s Police Authorities, and is at the forefront in supporting the Emergency Services.

 Vauxhall Special Services accompanied the Association of Chief Police Officers Intelligent Transport Systems (ACPO ITS) at a police conference in Norway to demonstrate the Single Vehicle Architecture fitted to its Astra and Insignia models. The convention was attended by 250 government, police and procurement staff.

Working in conjunction with the ACPO ITS, Vauxhall Special Vehicles have developed an Insignia and Astra featuring Single Vehicle Architecture, the first vehicles in the UK to meet this specification standard.

According to Vauxhall website, “SVA provides a standard specification for all manufacturers and suppliers to follow, allowing them to produce common wiring and connection points for specialist equipment permitting plug-and-play installation of Police/Emergency Services electronics. This significantly reduces the time (and thus cost) taken to equip vehicles, and allows easy decommissioning to maximising resale value.”

Vauxhall brand performing well through innovation

It seems that the Norwegian Police were very pleased by the SVA technology and its application in the Insignia and Astra models that Vauxhall has been asked to showcase the cars to an audience of motor fleet managers in March. Moreover, the Danish Police also received a demonstration of the Police vehicles.

Vauxhall Motors Special Vehicles has become the biggest supplier of low and intermediate Police vehicles in the UK after winning contracts for six police regions. The agreements include a wide range of Vauxhall models, including the Insignia, Astra, Corsa, Astravan, Combo, Vivaro and Movano.

If not already insured, look for insurance brokers and make sure to get a commercial vehicle insurance immediately!

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Feb
15

Nissan Vans for Bridgestone Fleet

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Nissan has signed a contract with Bridgestone to provide Primastar vans. Bridgestone, the world’s largest tyre and rubber company, preferred the Nissan vans to join its fleet of LCVs providing fleet inspection and tyre replacement services. One of the Bridgestone’s main clients is First Group, Britain’s biggest bus operator running almost 8,000 vehicles.

Nissan proving a popular choice for Fleet Operators

 “The three Nissan Primastars are used by the regional technicians who support the Bridgestone UK Bus Operations Team,” said Nichola Randall, manager responsible for fleet vehicles at BridgestoneUK.

 “The role of the regional technician is to offer cover and support to the UK-wide team of technicians while the vehicles will be used to carry light equipment for electronic fleet inspections and heavyweight equipment such as tyres and wheels,” Mrs. Randall added. She also said the Primastar had been chosen because it was the most appropriate vehicle for the job and it had the best specification for the price.

Additionally, Barry Beeston, Nissan’s fleet sales director, commented: “The Primastar is a great match for Bridgestone’s requirements, enabling them to transport various items of equipment, whilst providing a high level of flexibility. The Primastar’s high specification, including Bluetooth and reverse parking sensors combined with competitive leasing rates, low maintenance costs and excellent residual values provides a strong solution for the business user.”

Should you require motor fleet insurance, Plan Insurance can offer you a comprehensive insurance policy tailored to meet your exact needs and keep costs to a minimum. That’s why it makes sense to deal with an insurance broker.

Plan Insurance has been arranging also truck insurance for over 30 years.

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Feb
15

Demand for Commercial Vehicles

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 The commercial vehicle industry is an important part of the European automobile industry and currently employs about 1.5 million people directly and indirectly in Europe. Its products are first choice around the world. The manufacturers’ advanced technologies are a clear industrial asset and essential in helping to achieve environmental objectives in the EU and across the globe.

 With the recovery in the commercial vehicle market it is now more important than ever before to develop innovations in safety, fuel efficiency and engine emissions.

According to data from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), the figures showed that in December 2011, new commercial vehicle registrations in the EU amounted to 166,739 units, or 7.5% more than in the same month of 2010. Registrations grew in the UK (+13.4%) and Germany (+16.3%), while results were negative inItaly (-0.8%) andSpain (-14.2%). Over the year 2011, a total of 1,935,392 new vehicles were registered. This is 9.9% more than in 2010 but still about one-fifth below pre-crisis levels when annual volumes averaged 2.5 million units.

Moreover, in the UK registrations of new vans grew by 7.8 % while heavy trucks recorded the highest increase across segments with 39 %.

Commercial Van Sales on the Rise

The ACEA commercial vehicle members are Daimler AG, DAF Trucks, Iveco SpA, MAN AG, Scania AB, Volkswagen AG and AB Volvo. They produce trucks and engines in over ten EU countries, including Germany,France, Italy, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Belgium, the Netherlands, Poland and the Czech Republic.

If not already insured, look for insurance brokers and make sure to get a commercial vehicle insurance immediately!

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Feb
14

Young Automotive Workforce

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The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) says that record numbers of young people are beginning careers in the UK automotive industry.

 Automotive industry jobs are amongst the most highly-valued by graduates, which is not surprising as the opportunities offered in the global car industry are unparalleled. UK automotive companies are taking on new talent from schools and colleges to grow the sector’s skills base.

young mechanics with a bright future in the motor trade

 SMMT Chief Executive, Paul Everitt says “theUK automotive industry offers fantastic career and skills opportunities for young people across a huge variety of disciplines from design, engineering, supply chain, manufacturing to retail and aftermarket. Despite challenging economic conditions, the industry took on more than 14,000 new apprentices in 2011, demonstrating its commitment to attracting the brightest and best talent to the sector.”

Across the, 64 per cent of UK companies are investing in training for their employees and automotive manufacturing employers providing on average 2.9 days of training per employee each year. Gross Value Added per UK automotive employee is estimated to be £61,100, compared to £35,000 across the rest of the economy.

The automotive retail industry is one of the top three sectors in the UK to offer apprenticeships as a path to a motor trade career. The Government is keen to see an increase in apprenticeships for young people within the Motor Trade. One in five young people are now out of work. In 2010, Business Secretary Vince Cable urged employers to help create 100,000 more apprentices by 2014.

Looking for Traders Insurance? Get your trade insurance online quote!

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