Two eagerly anticipated new Scania models have been revealed, heralding a generation of more efficient and spacious trucks from the manufacturer.

New R (above left) and S (right) models were unveiled in Paris tonight (23 August), with the S truck said to be up to 5% more efficient than the manufacturer’s most recently launched product, the Streamline in 2013.

The trucks have been designed to provide enhanced aerodynamic performance, and following years of testing Scania believes they will be the most aerodynamic trucks on the market.

There are new engines, with greater efficiency, and a redesigned cab, providing more space for the driver.

• For more on the new Scania S and Scania R, including the inside story on testing the new truck under heavy camouflage and how the new aerodynamics achieve up to 5% fuel saving, pick up a copy of Commercial Motor - out Thursday 25 August 2016.

A range of new drag-reduction features appear in the S-series, now the largest truck in the range, with three adjustable air deflectors to improve the alignment between the cab and the trailer roof, as well as new smaller gaps between the lights and other external components.

The windscreen has been mounted flush to the cab and there are integrated auxiliary lights and end-marker lamps placed above the windscreen.The rear-view mirrors have also been redesigned to optimise airflow and create less drag. 

The R-series adopts the same principles on its slightly smaller frame.

The full engine line-up will see power outputs from 410hp to 730hp, with the redeveloped powertrains getting new fuel injectors, revised combustion chambers and a reconfigured cooling system, all of which have been tested over more than 10 million km during the development process.

Three models will be SCR-only (410hp, 450hp and 500hp) with the new 13-litre 500hp unit a new engine.

The 15.6-litre V8s will continue with the same power ouputs found in the current R-series with 520hp, 580hp and 730hp, all using a combination of EGR and SCR.

The additional space means the interior has been totally overhauled, with more room for the driver thanks to a new seating position, as well as more storage and greater visibility.

Scania said the trucks had been under development for 10 years, at a cost of more than SEK20bn (£1.8bn) and promised that its customers will be able to “carry out their work in the most sustainable and profitable way, regardless of industry and area of application”.

Scania will continue to sell its current range of P-, G- and R-series trucks while production of the new models ramps up and the new designs and technology are transferred and launched in the other models.

Malcolm Group said its new 35-tonne Stertil Koni Skylift has improved efficiency and access during chassis washing operations. The haulier recently installed the galvanised Skylift in an outdoor purpose-built chassis wash bay at its depot in Linwood, Renfrewshire.

It was recessed into the floor so vehicles can be driven onto its 14.5m parallel platforms. Once a vehicle is correctly positioned, the chassis is cleaned using a manual high-pressure washer lance.

The Skylift is free of cross beams and posts, allowing unrestricted access to the underside of raised vehicles. Fleet engineer Robert Deans said the firm uses the Skylift on a daily basis for its tractor units, trailers and rigids. “The Skylift has been welcomed by our chassis wash bay operatives, who benefit from clear access to raised vehicles in a safe, controlled manner,” he said.

This article was published in the 18 August issue of Commercial Motor. Why not subscribe to get 12 issues for just £12?

Welsh haulier HR Davies has added its first new Volvo to its fleet of concrete mixers. 

The Tredegar-based operator opted for the 540hp FH for its I-Shift automated transition, torque and height.

MD Haulfryn Davies said: “The Volvo FH Globetrotter gives me plenty of storage space. 

What’s more, it’s all in a package that’s less than 4m high, which was imperative because of loading height constraints.”

The truck is fitted with a Hymix concrete mixer and will work for Hope Construction Materials with HR Davies’s other four vehicles, also fitted with concrete mixers.

The vehicle was supplied by Truck and Bus Wales and West, Avonmouth. 

• This article first appeared in Commercial Motor 11 August. Subscribe today and get 12 issues for £12.

Boughey Distribution has chosen to renew its HGV fleet with an order for 100 Actros trucks, marking a shift from MAN to Mercedes-Benz.

The deal via dealership Roanza Truck & Van, has seen the first 25 trucks delivered and placed into service.

More than half of the order should be running in Boughey’s colours by the end of this year, with the remainder to come in 2017. 

The 6x2 Actros trucks with BigSpace cabs have 450hp to call on, and the decision to go with vehicles featuring the three-pointed star came after a three-month trial featuring product from four manufacturers.

Boughey said an impressive MPG performance, driver acceptance and the dealer support available (the haulier conducts maintenance in-house but Rozana has supplied training and diagnostic equipment) convinced it that the Actros was right choice for its operation.

“When we crunched the numbers it was a clear winner in terms of whole-life cost,” said Paul Brimelow, group fleet engineer at Boughey.

The deal will also see its fleet shift from a Euro-5 powered one to Euro-6.

Trailer manufacturer Montracon plans to double production at its Doncaster, South Yorkshire, plant by next year, according to MD Paul Avery (pictured).

Avery said the manufacturer, which has facilities in Mallusk and Market Weighton, is investing in new machinery and tooling at the site, which specialises in the production of curtainsiders. “We want to go from 45 units a week to about 80 or 90 a week in 12 months,” he said. “This is huge investment and by the middle of next year we expect to have a new paint system in place.”

The company has also recruited an operations director, a production manager and an engineering manager.

Avery, who joined Montracon from trailer maker Schmitz Cargobull (UK) at the start of this year, said: “Our aim is to increase output with the same number of people and be more efficient and profitable.”

At Tip-ex in June Montracon launched its 313m half-pipe steel tipper aimed at the metal recycling and aggregates sectors, and it is also developing a semi-chassis reefer trailer suitable for the continental market.

Avery said: “There is lots going on, things are looking positive and our performance is much better this year. We are more discerning in terms of what orders we accept.”

This article was published in the 18 August issue of Commercial Motor. Why not subscribe to get 12 issues for just £12?

Firing up the next generation of industry talent is the key aim of the next month’s RHA National Lorry Week, taking place 19-24 September.

The second National Lorry Week is focusing on widening the industry’s talent pool in light of dwindling driver numbers and a need for more people in other key roles such as transport managers.  

The RHA said it has had an “incredible response” from its members taking part in the event, with many planning to scale up their events from its inaugural year.

PJ and J Dearden is teaming up with other local hauliers to host a family fun day in aid of Somerset and Dorset Air Ambulance, which will be opened by local MP Marcus Fysh with the Mayor of Chard also set to attend.

RHA national chairman Jim French said: “We’ve had an incredible response from our members for this year’s Love the Lorry week. The whole industry recognises the fact that we need to fire-up the next generation and show them the opportunities that are open to them.

“This industry is going through a period of renewal and we need more drivers; women as well as men. 

But French added that drivers aren’t the only workers the RHA wants to draw in with National Lorry Week: “We need warehouse operatives, mechanics, technicians, IT specialists, transport managers and marketing experts. The haulage and logistics industry has something for everyone.”

The trade association will also hold a parliamentary reception as part of National Lorry Week, to raise awareness of the industry’s needs among MPs and senior civil servants.

Fleet renewal patterns have returned to normal following the distortions caused by Euro-6 and Whole Vehicle Type Approval, and the industry should expect a steadier rate of further growth, according to the SMMT’s latest quarterly figures.

New truck registrations (of vehicles above 6-tonne GVW) in the second quarter of the year stood at 11,071, up 12.9% on the same quarter in 2015.

However, as the SMMT’s new quarterly reporting regime for new truck registrations does not break down every month, it did not show any evidence of an effect on confidence or buying patterns among new truck buyers in the lead-up to the EU referendum.

The number of 3-axle artics registered in the period fell 11.4% year-on-year to 3,842 (compared with 4,337 in Q2 2015). And while 2-axle artics rose 11.2% quarter-on-quarter (from 427 to 475), it was not enough to offset the overall year-on-year decline in the artic market in April, May and June from 4,764 units to 4,317.

Rigids remained strong, up 22.3% year-on-year at 6,754 units compared with 5,523 units
in Q2 2015. The market between 6-tonne and 16-tonne GVW was up 25.5% year-on-year to 2,449 units (Q2 2015: 1,951), while rigids above 16-tonne GVW were up 20.5% to 4,305, from 3,572.

SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: “It’s encouraging to see HGV operators continuing to invest following the growth seen last year – the result of pent-up demand created by regulatory upheaval in 2014.

"We’re seeing fleet renewal patterns return to normal and the signs point towards further growth, albeit at a steadier rate. Maintaining business confidence must be a priority to ensure this crucial sector’s success.”

Daf led the market again in Q2 with a 31.3% share equating to 3,470 units registered. Scania remained second with a 16.2% share (1,788 units) and Volvo maintained its third place by just 0.1% above Mercedes-Benz (12.6% and 1,400 units compared with 12.5% and 1,389 units respectively).

MAN remained fifth (9.4%, 1,042 units) with Iveco sixth (7.7%, 847 units) and Renault seventh (5.1%, 568 units).

• This story originally appeared in the 25 August issue. Why not subscribe and get 12 issues for just £12?

Nortons Hiab Services has taken delivery of its first Volvo, an FH-540. Of crucial importance to the deal was the availability of a 10-tonne front axle rating on a 44-tonne GCW 6x4 tractor.

The Manchester operator specified the FH with a pair of hydraulically-operated stabiliser legs mounted on a Nato beam extension to the front of the chassis. It means the vehicle can be used as a crane truck able to work with its 17.7m Dennison extending trailer, or on its own as a replacement for a lightweight crane carrier for city centre construction sites.

The FH is equipped with a Hiab XS 622 EP-6 HiPro crane. The truck was supplied by Thomas Hardie Commercials at Trafford Park, which will carry out maintenance under Volvo’s repair and maintenance contract.

This article was published in the 25 August issue of Commercial Motor. Why not subscribe to get 12 issues for just £12?

Fraikin has strengthened its relationship with Menzies Distribution, signing a new five-year contract to provide 50 new trucks and vans.

The new vehicles, which include 37 replacement vehicles and 13 additional assets, include Iveco New Daily 6.5 and 7-tonne vans, Iveco Eurocargo 7.5 and 18- tonne trucks, a MAN 6x2 tractor unit, a Montracon 45' curtainside trailer and a Mercedes Antos 26-tonne rigid. 

Fraikin, which has been working with Menzies since 2005, will also manage all servicing, maintenance and repairs for the vehicles, road fund licensing, six-weekly safety inspections, annual MOT testing, tyre management and 24/7 roadside assistance. 

The full service deal also sees maintenance and repairs carried out at Fraikin branches and via its network of third-party service providers.

Allan Hughes, Menzies distribution transport and logistics manager, said Fraikin’s reliability and flexibility were key to the firm winning the contract.

“Newspapers have such a limited shelf life that they can’t afford to be even a few hours late.

Our drivers make deliveries all through the night to remote areas, especially in Scotland, so we need a fleet we can rely on that is supported across the country at all hours," Hughes said.

“On top of this, our business is also diversifying, as we have recently made some big acquisitions and moved into other logistics areas.

Fraikin understands this and has been able to provide us with the flexibility and reliability we need. As a long term customer we know we can rely on the Fraikin team to deliver,” he added.

In June this year refrigerated-rental firm Petit Forestier entered into an exclusivity agreement with Fraikin to acquire 100% of the business. 

Contract hire and rental company NRG Fleet Services, based in Skelmersdale, Lancashire, has taken delivery of a new Daf LF 6x2 rigid urban refuse truck.

The truck was built as a 4x2 16-tonner before being converted to 3-axle configuration by axle specialist Estepe, increasing its weight to 22.5 tonnes.

The LF, which has a payload of 10 tonnes, has a 5-speed Allison automatic transmission and Geesinknorba GPM4 refuse collection body. It is Clocscompliant and equipped with an extra nearside window panel, sidescan technology and Cyclear system from ISS, which alerts both driver and cyclist when the two are in close proximity.

NRG sales director Alan Ellison said: “For urban refuse collection, it strikes the optimum balance of weight and manoeuvrability.”

This article was published in the 25 August issue of Commercial Motor. Why not subscribe to get 12 issues for just £12?

Grangemouth Tank Services has added four Daf XF 460 Space Cab tractor units to its fleet on contract hire. 

The container and bulk liquid haulier has fitted Gardner Denver pumping equipment to the vehicles and brings its total fleet to 13 Daf XFs, all supplied by Ryder.

"We operate in and out of the ports of Grangemouth and Rosyth and have been a Ryder customer for the past two years," said Gill Scott, MD at Grangemouth Tank Services.

"The excellent all-round customer service and first-class maintenance and repair service, including the provision of courtesy vehicles, has been a key factor in replacing the balance of our fleet with trucks from Ryder," he said.

A surge in Chinese truck sales to the Commonwealth trimmed turnover at Northampton-based operator and used truck dealer EM Rogers last year.

The haulier reported turnover down 6% to £18.5m for the year to 31 January 2016 (2015: £19.8m). 

Joint MD David Rogers blamed the fall on the increasing demand for Chinese vehicles. “The Commonwealth market that we sell to hasn’t been buying second-hand trucks from the UK as much as buying new Chinese trucks; lesser copies of Volvo or MAN, for example.

It looks like the Commonwealth is giving them a go,” he said.

Rogers said that while the vehicles look similar to models from leading manufacturers, their durability remains to be seen.

“If you were to look from 10m away and you saw a Volvo, or a Chinese copy of one, they look similar. But the proof will be in the pudding if they’re still going strong in a few years,” he said.

“At some point, the Chinese will get it right, but at the moment you don’t know what their longevity is.” 

Despite the fall in turnover, EM Rogers reported a 143% profit increase to £2m. This, added Rogers, was brought about by a strong euro and lower diesel prices during the year. 

However, he added that the UK’s decision to leave the EU and the subsequent fall of the pound against the euro could “cost the business a lot of money” in the longer term, but added that the company was confident it could meet the challenges Brexit might present. 

Expected fuel savings of 7% have prompted Waitrose to order a batch of Gray & Adams trailers, which have been developed with Cambridge University.

It is the third consecutive year the supermarket has placed an order for boat-tail trailers.

Built at Gray & Adams’ Fraserburgh HQ, the trailers were built after testing the product in a wind tunnel and making a series of modifications based on these findings.

These included a smooth underside to allow for better air flow, a lower vehicle height and the tapered boat tail at the trailer’s rear.

Simon Gray, vehicle engineering manager for the John Lewis Partnership, said: “It’s all very well having a nice set of drawings, but you then have to make it work in the real world. Gray & Adams did a good job.”

Waitrose ordered batches of the trailers in 2014 and 2015, which delivered on the predicted fuel savings. 

“The 7% improvement translates into an annual per vehicle saving of approximately 2,800 litres of fuel and a reduction in the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere each year of more than 7,000 tonnes,” Gray said.

Based on this, Gray expects to recoup the increased cost of the trailers within the first two years of their 10-year lifetime. 

Gray & Adams declined to say how many trailers were being supplied as part of the latest batch.

SDC Trailers has inked a major deal with Eddie Stobart for 240 new trailers.

The £6.8m order is SDC Trailers’ first big contract win since it was bought by CIMC Vehicles, the China-based global trailer manufacturer in June.

The company will deliver 50 gooseneck skeletal trailers and 25 extendable skeletal trailers for Eddie Stobart’s port logistics, 125 curtainsiders for retail operations and 40 brick and block trailers for the operator’s aggregate division.

It follows the delivery of 50 box trailers to Stobart last month and 650 curtainsiders and boxvan trailers earlier in 2016.  

Long-time Iveco operator Bof has bought five new Eurocargo rigids for its delivery operation.

The 4x2 vehicles, fitted with 1.85m2 box bodies and roller shutter doors, will operate five days a week for the furniture provider, which designs interiors for offices and educational environments.

The vehicles were provided by Glenside Commercials under a five-year Iveco Elements repair and maintenance package.

Bof operations manager Neil Bowen said: “Bof has operated Iveco commercial vehicles for more than 10 years, and we’ve come to view the company’s trucks and vans as the ever-reliable workhorse of our delivery operations.

When the time came to expand the fleet, we were drawn to the new Eurocargo, which has greatly expanded on its predecessor’s excellent pedigree as a delivery vehicle, making it the durable, flexible and economically sensible choice.”

• This article was published in the 1 September issue of Commercial Motor. Why not subscribe to get 12 issues for £12?

TCL Tanker Rental has acquired 26 chemical, food, milk, petroleum, waste and water tankers from Crossland worth £2m as part of what it describes as an aggressive growth plan. 

The firm, based in Garforth, West Yorkshire, specified the tankers with 30,000- to 42,000-litre capacities and will provide operational support for companies hiring them. They include several milk reload tankers with stainless steel shells and ground-level high-capacity venting systems for high-speed loading and unloading.

TCL, part of Turner Group’s asset rental division, has a rental tanker fleet of more than 250, with customers including Yorkshire Water, Water Direct and LCM Environmental. 

Sales engineer Stuart Blacoe said the firm has acquired 105 new tankers over the past five years with a market value of more than £8m.

“There is a lot of demand for rental tankers at the moment and the market is buoyant,” he added. “Our business is seeing 10% year-on-year growth and we are aggressively expanding the business through purchasing more tankers and equipment.”

Earlier this year, Denmark-based stainless steel and aluminium tanker manufacturer VM Tarm appointed TCL as its sole service partner in the UK.

Blacoe said: “The partnership with VM Tarm is going well and we are carrying out repairs and servicing as well as offering replacement parts for customers around the country.”

This article was published in the 1 September issue of Commercial Motor. Why not subscribe to get 12 issues for just £12?

Leasing specialist Axis Fleet Management has appointed a new senior executive team to implement its growth plans.

Mick Ledden, who previously worked at asset management firms Aggreko and Lavendon, has been brought in by the Oxfordshire-based company as MD. He was recruited by former chief executive Andrew Palmer, who recently stepped down. Former DHL UK Freight employee Neil Kinnear joins as sales director, while Bob Fraser comes in as operations director from DX Freight.

The company leases more than 3,000 tractor units, trailers and rigids to more than 110 customers including DHL, Gist, Freightliner and JWT (pictured).

Chairman Robert Montague CBE said Axis now has an experienced team in place across all areas of the business: “We are confident that the expertise of our team in this sector, along with our continued focus on providing cutting-edge telematics and technology, will provide the platform for the company’s future success.”

This article was published in the 1 September issue of Commercial Motor. Why not subscribe to get 12 issues for just £12?

My favourite holiday destination is...

France - for the weather, local markets, food and the attitude.
 

I drive a...

Volvo S60.
 

My hobby is...

Vehicles. I enjoy tinkering with and driving a BMW 320i convertible. My latest acquisitions are a Rover Mini and a motorhome.
 

I got into the industry when...

ERF advertised a job in its research and development department to develop the EC series cab and I applied. I had always had an interest in vehicles and thought I would give it a go.
 

To encourage more young people into the industry we should...

Make the ‘wow’ factor more visible. What thrills me in my job is the ability to make a difference and I don’t think too much of that is visible to potential recruits. Without some ‘wow’ factor, transport is just another job where you are just another cog in a very large machine.
 

The outlook for our sector of the market over the next 12 months is...

That Brexit will put a lot of uncertainty in operators’ minds. We are pressing on with new developments so it’s still an exciting time for me. We have been having a surge in trailers and trailer brake electronics for the past three years - the peak has been reached and it is slowing down now.

This article was published in the 1 September issue of Commercial Motor. Why not subscribe to get 12 issues for just £12?

Operators that fail to put in place extended cover for their used trucks may be putting their businesses at risk, a truck warranty provider has warned.

Robert Dockerill (pictured), CEO of Fleetband Warranty Services, said many commercial vehicle manufacturers offer a one-year warranty but as soon as a truck falls out of the main dealer environment, warranty coverage often gets forgotten about.

“If your car breaks down it is rarely more than a minor annoyance, but if your commercial vehicle breaks down it can threaten the continuance of the business,” he said.

“As extended warranty cover on commercial vehicles is not an accepted norm, the way it is in the car market, it gets overlooked or, worse still, is never discussed.”

Dockerill said many haulage firms buy second-hand trucks because it makes more financial sense than buying new vehicles. “Most second-hand cars come with some kind of extended warranty but most used commercial vehicles come with little or no such coverage,” he said.

This article was published in the 8 September issue of Commercial Motor. Why not subscribe to get 12 issues for just £12?

The government is considering extending the longer semi-trailer pilot, despite the latest annual report revealing that the full allocation is still not running on UK roads.

According to the fourth annual report, 1,674 of the full allocation of 1,800 longer semi-trailer permits were in use as of July 2016; an increase from the 1,511 at the end of 2015.

The DfT said another 100 longer semi-trailers have either been issued with their vehicle special orders, required to use a longer trailer on the public highway, or are currently in build.

With the full trial allocation almost reached, the DfT has also started “consulting trade associations and participants on whether to increase the number of vehicles in the trial”.

It is also seeking views on whether the trial should be extended.

Since December 2015, the number of operators with longer semi-trailers on the road has increased from 151 to 163, and the report predicted that operating longer semi-trailers had saved up to 10.6 million vehicle km since the trial began in 2012.

The report added: “There is no evidence that the safety risk from longer semi-trailers is worse than that of normal HGV trailers.”

Transport minister John Hayes said: “Lorries are the engine of our economy and this pilot scheme is helping hauliers deliver the day-to-day goods we need more efficiently.”

“Road haulage efficiency is vital to the economy and keeping the UK competitive,” said RHA director of policy Jack Semple. “After the Brexit vote, there is an increased awareness that we should be embracing every opportunity for productive innovation, where it is safe to do so.” 

“This report confirms the value of longer semi-trailers,” Jack Semple continued. “It also confirms the RHA’s prediction that there would be no great rush for the new lengths and that take-up would be gradual, with 15.65 metre trailers much the more popular length.

“There are now 151 operators in the trial. But it is clear from our members that both existing longer semi-trailer operators and other hauliers could make good use of more of these trailers, and the government should release more permits to allow them to do so. It should allocate permits, as before, in a way that gives equal opportunity to smaller firms.”

• This article first appeared in Commercial Motor 8 September. Why not subscribe today and get 12 issues for £12?