Trailer Innovations Who Are the Leaders of the Pack? Welcome to Cv Engineer, Re-Engineered

OCTOBER|2018

IN THIS ISSUE > Exhaust emission alarm bells > Tructyre merges with ATS

TRAILER INNOVATIONS WHO ARE THE LEADERS OF THE PACK? WELCOME TO CV ENGINEER, RE-ENGINEERED

hen the first issue of Commercial Vehicle Engineer was published in January W 2010, we promised that the new, independent, online monthly for transport engineers and fleet managers would deliver a unique blend of EDITORIAL & DESIGN news, analysis and hard-hitting comment on the commercial vehicle market and aftermarket. Immediate Network Ltd 6 Wey Court, Mary Road, Guildford, Whether you are among the thousands of Surrey GU1 4QU readers who have been with us from day one or the thousands more who have t: 01483 546500 joined us since then, we sincerely hope that you will agree that this promise has w: inl.co.uk e: cvengineer.com been delivered. On a host of subjects including truck operating costs, trailer and bodywork EDITOR innovations, the real stories behind the career moves of fleet managers and

Tim Blakemore engineers, and well-informed, truly independent comment on the latest vehicle t: 01428 605605 engineering and operations news, we are confident thatCV Engineer stands out e: [email protected] from the crowd as much today as it did nearly nine years ago.

ADVERTISING But just as the commercial vehicles on which we report regularly benefit from modernisation and re-engineering from time to time, so too does a publication Denise Blakemore like this. Following the title's acquisition three months ago by Immediate Subcriptions Manager t: 01428 605605 Network, the Guildford, Surrey-based organisation behind a stable of respected e: [email protected] digital publications including The Car Expert, The Van Expert and The Truck Expert, your magazine has been comprehensively redesigned this month. Tony Greville Business Development Director The central aim is to make the content even more readily accessible, on pages t: 01483 546500 with a fresh contemporary design that complements the latest, highly efficient e: [email protected] commercial vehicles often described in them.

SUBSCRIPTIONS We have always genuinely welcomed all reader feedback, complimentary or MANAGEMENT critical, on any aspect of Commercial Vehicle Engineer. Please do tell us what you think about the latest design. Denise Blakemore t: 01428 605605 We look forward to hearing from you and to providing you with more e: [email protected] genuinely independent high-quality editorial on commercial vehicle operation and engineering in the coming months and years. Annual subscription (12 editions) £20 + vat (£24) Tim Blakemore PUBLISHED BY Editor

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THE TRUCK EXPERT THE VAN EXPERT THE CAR EXPERT

COMMERCIAL VEHICLE ENGINEER > OCTOBER 2018 3 CONTENTS

24>> NEWS FROM THE NORTH CONTENTS Trucks taking centre stage in the Transport News TruckScot Scenery this month include a Volvo FH420 eight-wheeler from Peterhead, an Iveco Stralis 6>> POINTS OF VIEW six-wheeler from Elgin, a Renault C-Range hookloader Doosan UK’s commercial director Paul Watson on new from Inverness, and three emissions limits for fork-lift trucks coming into force in 630hp Mercedes Actros 6x2 January. ParcelHero’s David Jinks on the perils of an “Amazon tractors from Aberdeen. tax”. RTITB boss Laura Nelson on what should and should not be read into a plunge in Driver CPC numbers.

27>> NEWS FROM >> 9 NEWS THE NORTH Exhaust emission alarm bells rung by Volvo Group. Directors at Lancashire- based Monks Contractors explain why the Thompson 10>> NEWS ServiceTech offering is just Driver medicals: fitter than they were but still far from perfect. the ticket from their point of view.

11>> FOLLOW THE LEADERS IN TRAILER INNOVATIONS

The ingenuity of trailer-makers and bodybuilders seldom TRAILER INNOVATIONS 29>> NEWS FROM gets the recognition it deserves. That’s where the biennial, THE NORTH pan-European Trailer Innovation awards scheme comes in. Who are the leaders of the pack? Tim Blakemore is your guide to the 2019 results. Our learned friend the Transport News Truck 11 Advocate offers some expert advice on O-licences and vehicles below the 3.5 tonnes GVW threshold; asbestos loads and ADR licences; and safety inspections when vehicles are kept off the road.

30>> PEOPLE AND JOBS David Gregory takes charge of health, safety and environmental matters at Tiger Trailers. Jonathan Wood is promoted to global components engineering vice president at Cummins. Twelve months after acquiring Tructyre, Michelin 10 reveals plans to merge it with DRIVER MEDICALS PEOPLE AND JOBS 30 ATS Euromaster.

4 OCTOBER 2018 > COMMERCIAL VEHICLE ENGINEER COMMERCIAL VEHICLE ENGINEER > OCTOBER 2018 5 POINTS OF VIEW POINTS OF VIEW

particulate filters to comply with existing FUTURE FORK-LIFT POWER OPTIONS Stage III B and Stage IV standards. Only a couple of these can offer solutions across LESS LEVELLING THE PLAYING HANGING IN THE BALANCE the whole range. Doosan is one of them, with a full range across all diesel-powered FIELD, MORE DIGGING UP counterbalance trucks up to 25 tonnes. THE PITCH The new Stage V regulations will almost cleaning systems and operating regimes certainly mean that DPFs will have to be will be required by most manufacturers. fitted. Doosan needs only a very small For less sophisticated diesel engines this DPF, however, as the in-house designed hancellor Philip Hammond is will mean longer periods of downtime and G2 engine is already exceptionally proposing a so-called ‘Amazon more expense. clean. Tests underway on G2 engines C tax’ on products sold online: Most fork-lift truck makers do not build at Doosan’s Infracore engine division meaning the cost of products will rise their own engines. The solution generally indicate that effective cleaning of the for UK buyers. for them has been to adapt ill-suited filter can take place while the truck is in The chancellor’s Conservative

automotive engines and cut NOx emissions normal use, much like a diesel car. So party conference speech this month in by using cooled exhaust gas to lower there is no costly downtime. Birmingham was billed as being about combustion temperature and dilute the But the future for cars and vans seems “an economy that works for everyone”. oxygen in the combustion chamber. But the to be electric. Is this true for fork-lift His response to the collapse of high- SHUTTERSTOCK.COM big penalty is that soot (PM) is increased, trucks too? Electric trucks certainly have street sales is a solution that works for wants Britain’s hard-pressed consumers making a DPF essential. a lot to offer. In 2016, Doosan launched no-one. Hammond’s extraordinary to dip into their pockets to pay more for As anyone who has purchased a new a range of 48v electric trucks up to two proposal is to restore the health of town goods bought online. Internet buyers fork-lift fitted with a DPF will know, it has tonnes and in early 2017 an 80v range centre stores with a new e-commerce would pay through the nose to create an Paul Watson to be regenerated at regular intervals. This from 2.5 to 3.5 tonnes was launched. tax. Yet everyone, from large town artificial parity with the high street. Who is a lengthy process that for most users Later this year the five-tonne electric centre retailers to the Federation of exactly would gain from this? rom 1 January 2019, new engine power outputs: Stage III A (less must be performed once or twice a week, series will be revamped. Six-, seven- and Small Businesses (FSB), agrees that it is Chances are that just as the new fork-lift trucks fuelled by than 37kW), Stage III B (37kW to 81kW) and requires the truck to be taken out of eight-tonne electric models will be looked exorbitant business rates that are largely Amazon tax looms, Donald Trump’s new diesel or LPG and sold and Stage IV A (greater than 81kW). service and revved highly for about 20 or at in the near future. responsible for killing the high street. taxes on imported Chinese goods will F in the EU will have to But life is about to become more 30 minutes to burn off the soot in the filter. There are nevertheless plenty of Hammond claims that taxing online also start to have an impact on British comply with the world’s complex, rather than less, for fork-lift Large amounts of fuel are used in the applications where diesel or LPG sales, the only growing sector of retail, shoppers. Many well-known American toughest emission standards for non-road truck buyers. Under Stage V standards, process and the truck is not available trucks offer the best solution and will will create a level playing field for high- brands popular in the UK incorporate vehicles, known as Euro Stage V. all fork-lift trucks with internal for duty – increasing downtime and continue to do so for the foreseeable street retailers. Online sales are up 14% Chinese components. Though the UK is set to exit the EU combustion engines (diesel and LPG significantly impacting productivity, not future. Much depends on the particular this year, underlining growing popularity The latest round of US tariffs is a 10% in 2019, the same standards will almost alike) will have to comply regardless of to mention the sheer inconvenience of the demands of the job, the application and with consumers. Many of these shoppers levy on US$200 billion worth of Chinese certainly be adopted here too. engine size, even trucks below the current whole lengthy, repetitive process. the working environment. would be hit hard by the new tax, and goods. That is set to rise to 25% by the What will this mean for fork-lift minimum threshold of 37kW. But not every diesel engine needs a As part of the US$21 billion Doosan it is far from clear that physical stores end of the year. This will have an impact truck fleet plans? Should buyers be For LPG trucks, particulate matter DPF to comply with current regulations. engineering conglomerate, the industrial would be helped. Additionally, many on US traders who source their stock reconsidering fuel or power options? emissions will not be a problem, but A small number of fork-lift truck vehicle division can tap into the rich high-street stores have successful from Alibaba and then sell products to Possibly, but there are several important a three-way catalytic converter will manufacturers have diesel engines on resources and in-house expertise of the websites that also would be hit by the the UK. More significant still, Chinese considerations to take into account. be needed to eliminate NOx. Catalytic the market that do not require diesel Doosan Infracore engine division. Doosan new tax. That would be a sucker punch components in well-known American The headline news is that limits on converters are relatively inexpensive, is investing heavily in expanding our to successful multi-channel bricks-and- branded electronics, cosmetics and emissions of particulate matter (PM) are require minimal maintenance and do range of electric fork-lift trucks, offering mortar/e-commerce businesses such as clothing also will be affected. Chinese to be reduced by a further 40% under not have to go through the regeneration powerful models capable of handling John Lewis. Rather than creating a level manufactured nickel-cadmium batteries the new regulations, taking the current processes associated with diesel loads once thought possible only with playing field, the chancellor is proposing are used in many US electronic items. Stage IV A limit of 0.025 g/kWh down particulate filters (DPF). internal combustion engine trucks. to dig up the pitch. Trump’s new tariff is bad enough, to 0.015g/kWh. The carbon monoxide The biggest impact of these new If you are looking for expert advice on Commercial property taxes in the UK but there would be a painful double emission limit will be set at 5.0g/kWh for standards will be on diesel engine how Euro Stage V standards might affect are now the highest in Europe. But the whammy if Hammond’s new Amazon all engines up to 128kW. Limits for oxides models. Most diesel fork-lift trucks your business, Doosan is well positioned chancellor refuses to budge on them, tax kicked in at the same time. of nitrogen (NOx) and hydrocarbons (HC) on the market at present require a to offer you a balanced view. arguing that they help stabilise local will remain unchanged. DPF to meet current standards. government funding. So, rather than David Jinks, Euro Stage V standards are much The introduction of more Paul Watson, cutting unreasonable business rates by Head of consumer research, clearer and simpler than the existing tiered stringent Stage V regulations means UK commercial director, funding a little more local spending, he ParcelHero arrangement, staggered across a range of that significantly more advanced DPF Doosan Industrial Vehicles UK

6 OCTOBER 2018 > COMMERCIAL VEHICLE ENGINEER COMMERCIAL VEHICLE ENGINEER > OCTOBER 2018 7 POINTS OF VIEW NEWS

EXHAUST EMISSION ALARM BELLS RUNG BY VOLVO WARNING

larm bells have been rung among truck operators in Europe and North America by a Volvo Group warning Aabout unexpected “degradation” of emission control equipment, thought to be the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system used with the latest D13, 13-litre, six-cylinder Volvo truck engine. A PLUNGE IN DRIVER CPC NUMBERS According to a cryptic statement issued this month by the group’s head office RAISES IMPORTANT QUESTIONS in Gothenburg, Sweden, “an emissions control component used in certain EuroVI Volvo D13 exhaust aftertreatment (above). markets is degrading more quickly than Iveco Eurocargo: European recall (below). expected, which could cause the engines to exceed emissions limits for oxides of that causes excess emissions of nitrogen

igures from the DVSA driving standards and improving road and nitrogen (NOx).” oxides.” The recall is thought to have cost confirm the number of vehicle safety. Existing, qualified drivers No further information is provided Cummins about US$400 million. Driver CPC (Certificate of are required to complete 35 hours of about the number of engines affected Earlier in Europe there had been an F Professional Competence) training over a five-year cycle. From 2009, or about exactly which component is entirely separate big recall campaign “periodic training” new drivers need an initial Driver CPC “degrading” faster than expected. The related to Euro VI truck exhaust attendees fell by 20% in the first half of qualification. They, too, must complete main supplier of SCR systems for the aftertreatment, but nothing to do with 2018 compared to the previous six months. continued training hours but they are not latest (Euro VI) D13 Volvo truck engines Cummins or Volvo engines. This equates to more than 100,000 tied into the same cycle, with their five-year is thought to be Eberspächer of Germany. Roadside tests of exhaust emissions drivers. The fall was small until February period starting at the time of qualification. “A full analysis of the issue and plans from a selection of cars, vans, trucks and after which it accelerated sharply. So the latest fall in attendee numbers with regulatory authorities are not buses in the UK last year resulted in the Five types of Euro VI trucks were tested This drop is substantial and the industry could be a sign of older drivers retiring. completed and the company is therefore voluntary recall by Iveco of nearly 6,000 last year by the DVSA: the Daf LF, Volvo needs to ask what lies behind the trend. New drivers do not face a September 2019 CVE WELCOMES not yet able to estimate the volume of Euro VI Eurocargo trucks in the UK, FM, MAN TGM, Mercedes Actros and It would be easy to say that employers are deadline for Driver CPC hours. This poses LETTERS, COMMENTS engines or vehicles that may need to be and many more in the rest of Europe. Iveco Eurocargo. The Eurocargo was the dismissing Driver CPC in the hope that the important considerations for employers AND TWEETS. addressed,” says the Volvo statement. The trucks were recalled to have exhaust only one to exceed Euro VI limits. requirements will disappear after Brexit. needing to ensure they have plans in place “Consequently it is not possible to aftertreatment equipment control The NOx conversion rate of all That may be what is thought in some to recruit talent to fill this skills gap. assess the financial impact at this stage; software recalibrated to bring emissions SCR catalysts is highly sensitive to organisations, but there may well be other Planned and used correctly, Driver Follow us on Twitter however the cost to redeem the issue of oxides of nitrogen back into line with temperature. AdBlue injection cannot important reasons for the shortfall. CPC can provide a valuable professional @CVEngineer1. could be material.” If Volvo Group’s main Euro VI limits. start until exhaust temperature reaches The road transport industry is busier development opportunity, used by intention in issuing the statement had The tests were conducted by the 200 degrees Celsius. And every second than ever, so perhaps operators are simply employers both to attract new drivers Write to the editor at: been to reassure investors and customers government’s Driver and Vehicle spent waiting for AdBlue injection too stretched delivering goods to send and retain existing professionals. The Hilltop House, Beech Hill, it seems to have backfired. Volvo Group’s Standards Agency (DVSA), using worsens NOx emissions. drivers for training. If this is the case, government has just confirmed that Headley Down, share price plunged by 5% in response to sophisticated portable emissions “An emissions control component we can expect to see the deficit made up Driver CPC will continue in its current Hampshire GU35 8BD the announcement. measurement systems (PEMS) used in certain markets with stringent later in the cycle. This may be a worry for format after Brexit. Getting safe, skilled One reason for investor and truck equipment. The results, published emissions standards is degrading more transport operators, who could lose weeks drivers on the road has to remain a e: [email protected] operator nervousness in the US could in March, showed that “real world” quickly than expected, reducing its next year making up training hours. priority for our industry. t: 01428 605 605 be the huge recall a few months ago of emissions from most of the vehicles tested ability to convert nitrogen oxides (NOx) The Driver CPC scheme and its “periodic about 500,000 truck engines powered did not exceed type approved levels based as efficiently as intended, which in turn training” requirement for LGV (large Laura Nelson, Please be sure to include your by Cummins diesel engines. That recall on laboratory tests. But there were some could cause the engines or vehicles to goods vehicle) drivers was introduced in Managing director, postal address and a daytime campaign too was caused by a “faulty glaring exceptions, including Ford Transit exceed emissions limits for NOx,” says the 2009 with the aim of maintaining high RTITB telephone number. emissions control systems component and Renault Trafic vans. Volvo Group statement of 16 October.

8 OCTOBER 2018 > COMMERCIAL VEHICLE ENGINEER COMMERCIAL VEHICLE ENGINEER > OCTOBER 2018 9 NEWS TRAILER INNOVATION

DRIVER MEDICALS: FITTER THAN THEY WERE BUT STILL FAR FROM PERFECT

new chief executive at the government's Driver and Vehicle Licensing A Agency (DVLA) seems to have wasted no time in tackling some of the serious failings highlighted two years ago in a hard- hitting Parliamentary Ombudsman report on truck and bus driver licensing. But FOLLOW THE LEADERS problems persist with driver medical assessments, not least the extortionate fees demanded by some general IN TRAILER INNOVATIONS practitioners (GPs). Julie Lennard was appointed DVLA chief executive six months ago, the first female boss of the Swansea-based In safe hands? The DVLA has responded to a fiercely critical report. The ingenuity of trailer makers and bodybuilders seldom gets the recognition it deserves. That’s where the biennial, Department for Transport (DfT) agency pan-European Trailer Innovation awards scheme comes in. Tim Blakemore is your guide to the 2019 results. in its 50-year history. For four years before We asked the same Surrey practice this licence renewal forms. The nearest it gets taking the top job, Ms Lennard had been month what the current fee is. It remains to recommending drivers see their own he pan-European Trailer Innovation scheme always has been to be the contribution made or promised DVLA director of strategy, policy and at £170. A quick internet search reveals GP is to point out that this may "speed up Trailer Innovation to try to redress the balance. to road freight transport efficiency. communications so certainly would have several organisations specialising in truck your application." awards scheme runs At first the entries came, as might be Working independently, each judge can been painfully familiar with the Driven and bus medical examinations for little Neither the BMA nor the Surrey every two years to expected, mainly from German trailer- award between zero and ten points to each to Despair report of October 2016 from more than £50. It seems certain that most doctors' surgery was able to offer any T coincide with the makers and bodybuilders. But soon entry. So the maximum possible score for the Parliamentary and Health Service truck and bus drivers are choosing to go justification for charging £136, let alone world’s biggest international interest grew as did the any entry this year is 160. Ombudsman (PHSO). to such organisations for their medicals £170 or more for this examination. The commercial vehicles show, the IAA overall number of entries year on year. One clear trend among Trailer This report focused on eight specific rather than to their own GP. This raises D4 medical examination report for a (Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung) Now the judges are editors of top Innovation award-winners two years complaints which led to the conclusion several concerns, highlighted starkly by group 2 licence has to be completed in Hannover, Germany, organised by the European road transport magazines from ago was the proliferation of telematics that many drivers were being let down by the Glasgow city centre refuse collection when a driver gets a vocational licence German automotive industry association, no fewer than 16 European countries, and “digitisation” in its many forms. the DVLA. Further evidence of serious truck horror of four years ago which left initially and then every five years after VDA (Verband der Automobilindustrie). including Commercial Vehicle Engineer This trend has accelerated further this flaws in the truck and bus driver medical six people dead after the driver passed out the driver reaches the age of 45. The Innovative engineering at trailer and in the UK and Fleet Transport in Ireland. time around, not least in the “safety” and assessment process were exposed two and the truck kept moving. The subsequent examination is needed annually from bodywork manufacturers and their The collective readership of all these titles “smart trailer” categories. years ago by a separate Commercial inquiry heard that the 58-year-old driver, age 65. suppliers gets overlooked too often, is well over 250,000. Read on for our summary of the top- Vehicle Engineer investigation. We asked Harry Clarke, had a long history of fainting The BMA does not know how many overshadowed unfairly by glitzy truck The key criterion by which all entries scoring three entries in all seven Trailer the British Medical Association (BMA) and dizziness which he had kept hidden truck and bus drivers go to their own GPs launches. The central idea behind the are judged, in seven categories, continues Innovation 2019 categories. how it could justify the extortionate from several employers and, presumably, for these examinations and how many go fees being charged by some general from the DVLA. "Doctors do have concerns to doctors they have never seen before. practitioners (GPs) for "group 2" (truck that because the law does not require an The Driven to Despair report called PUBLICATION COUNTRY PUBLICATION COUNTRY and bus vocational licence) medical individual to see their own GP for this for action "to improve the robustness of Auto-en Transportwereld Netherlands Revija Transport & Logistika Slovenia examinations. This brief examination examination then the individual may be assessments of fitness to drive for people Auto, tekniikka ja kuljetusa Finland Revista Automotive Portugal with certain medical conditions and typically takes no more than 15 minutes, able to hide a long-term medical condition," Commercial Vehicle Engineer United Kingdom Samochody Specialne Poland most of it spent form-filling. Yet the BMA said a BMA spokesperson. disabilities." Without this, it warned, Fleet Transport Ireland Stragü Austria recommended fee was and is £136 and The D4 medical assessment has to "there are risks that people fit to drive we had no difficulty finding one doctor in be completed by "a doctor registered will be denied a licence to do so, and Kamioni Bulgaria Trailer-Journal Germany Surrey charging £170. The highest figure and licensed to practice in the United others, who pose a risk to the public and KASA Turkey Transporama Belgium we have heard of is £205. This equates to Kingdom or registered within the EU", themselves, will keep their licence and KFZ-Anzeiger Germany Tranzit Romania continue to drive." an hourly charge rate of well over £700. says the DVLA guidance sent out with Mobilität Switzerland Vie & Trasporti Italy

10 OCTOBER 2018 > COMMERCIAL VEHICLE ENGINEER COMMERCIAL VEHICLE ENGINEER > OCTOBER 2018 11 TRAILER INNOVATION TRAILER INNOVATION

BODY

Finnish company with the unlikely name of Delete takes A second prize in this category for a skip-stacking system which is certainly novel. The SkipUp system in effect multi- tasks and thus saves time and effort by allowing a truck to pick up a full skip at the same time as an empty one is lowered to replace it. The skip-stacking system is compatible with “all conventional hooklift” equipment, it is claimed. All Trailer Innovation award entrants are invited Delete: stackable skip system. to explain what value is added by their SDC: hydraulic lifting-deck curtainsider. product for transport operators. Delete’s Which problems does the Bladex solve? bold claim is that the SkipUp system A long list offered by Holger Stahnker, can cut transport costs in half, increase Goldhofer’s head of design, includes “ fast site safety and “triple the capacity of skip delivery of long wind turbine blades over storage areas.” How on earth does it do long distances; blade tips can be raised to all this? pass over obstacles at difficult or narrow Go to www.delete.fi for a helpful points en route; vehicle length can be video showing exactly how the system reduced where space is limited such as works. There you will also find the answer on roundabouts (the Bladex system is Goldhofer: wind turbine blade tip lifting device. to where the curious company name mounted on longitudinal rails in the trailer comes from: a determination to delete bed); and significant cost savings as the your problems. FSH 10 avoids the need for an operator he diversity of this whole award scheme, both in Goldhofer, a heavy haulage trailer to switch to a self-propelled vehicle international reach and product types, is epitomised specialist based in Memmingen, Germany, en route.” T as much by this category as any this year. Entries is no stranger to Trailer Innovation awards. come from Poland, Italy, Belgium, France, UK and Four years ago its STZ-MPA low-loader Finland as well as from Germany. trailer won the chassis category, impressing The UK’s top-selling trailer-maker, Northern Ireland-based the judges with its MacPherson strut SDC Trailers, has been part of China’s giant CIMC (China suspension, reckoned to be a first on International Marine Containers) group since a takeover deal was trailers of this type. clinched in June 2016. As if to underline that the company is just Two years later and Goldhofer was on the as keen now to stay in touch with market demands as it always podium again, taking second place in the was as an independent, SDC takes third place with 100 points chassis category with the Addrive high- Body (top-scoring three entries) for its hydraulic lifting-deck curtainsider. There is nothing new speed, self-propelled (diesel-powered) about the idea of increasing a trailer’s pallet-carrying capacity by modular transporter (SPMT). This year COMPANY PRODUCT POINTS adding a second, lifting-deck. But SDC is right to point out that Goldhofer goes one better with first place Goldhofer Bladex wind turbine blade tip 105 rival lifting decks have been prone to hydraulic failure and sensor Caption here: in the body category for its Bladex FSH 10, lifting device reliability problems. SDC’s engineers have worked hard at trying xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx in essence a scissor-lift system for the huge Delete SkipUp stackable skip container system 102 to avoid such all-too-familiar shortcomings with a design which xxxxxxxxxxxxx wind turbine blades that are often carried xxxxxxxxxxxx SDC Trailers Hydraulic lifting-deck curtainsider 100 they confidently predict will prove “simple and effective”. on trailers of this type.

12 OCTOBER 2018 > COMMERCIAL VEHICLE ENGINEER COMMERCIAL VEHICLE ENGINEER > OCTOBER 2018 13 TRAILER INNOVATION TRAILER INNOVATION

Kässbohrer: octagonal-section spine for platform skeletal.

Kässbohrer, based in Ulm, Germany and part of Turkey’s fast-growing Tirsan CHASSIS trailer-making group for the past 16 years, took first prize in the Trailer Innovation “safety” category two years ago with an extensively re-engineered bitumen tanker. he top three awards in this BPW has been making self-steering This time around Kässbohrer engineers category go to a tandem- trailer axles for decades. Improved turned their attention to extendible, PSK T axle dolly for 25.25-metre manoeuvrability and extended tyre life (platform skeletal) trailers designed to roadtrains, a self-steering are the selling points which often strike a carry ISO shipping containers ranging in octagonal-section central spine for the axle aimed mainly at milk tanker chord in particular with the likes of milk length from 20ft to 45ft. trailer chassis frame, which now boasts operators, and an extendible platform tanker operators having to cope with The trailer-maker’s research suggested far greater torsional stiffness. “Front, skeletal container-carrying trailer with a difficult-to-access collection and delivery that one of the most common operational middle and rear extensions and carefully- novel central spine for its chassis frame. on farms and in congested urban streets. problems with current extendible trailers designed locking mechanisms enable the Fliegl is a family owned group based But axles of this kind generally have to employing a rectangular-section central most-user-friendly operation, even for an in Triptis, Germany. Its trailer-making be locked in the straight-ahead position, spine is stress to welded parts such as average driver,” claims the company. The division has earned a reputation for losing the manoeuvrability benefits, when axle support beams and suspensions, the Kässbohrer multifunctional container sound, innovative engineering among trailers are being reversed. BPW’s new result of repeated twisting of the central chassis scoops top prize in this category a host of German truck fleet operators. electro-hydraulic auxiliary steering system spine. Kässbohrer’s answer is a novel, for 2019. Fliegl’s engineers are among the maintains the self-steering function just many who support the economic and as well when a trailer is being reversed as environmental benefits offered by truck/ when it is going forwards. The system is Chassis (top-scoring three entries) trailer combinations that go beyond the summed up as “an easy-to-install discrete length limits applying currently in most solution consisting of a control unit, COMPANY PRODUCT POINTS European countries. The new Fliegl CLG Fliegl: hello dolly (the clever, light and guided variety). hydraulic power unit and steering cylinder.” (“clever, light guided”) tandem axle dolly Kässbohrer Multi-functional, skeletal container 111 chassis, K.SHG AVMH, with octagonal is designed primarily for one of those The CLG dolly is claimed to be logical. Mechanical is reliable. Mechanical section central spine combinations, what Fliegl calls Road remarkably light - saving as much as is sustainable,” says marketing manager Train 2.0, with a rigid three-axle prime 1,300kg by comparison with other dollies Tina Böttcher. “That is why Fliegl Trailer BPW Electro-hydraulic auxiliary steering 108 system for self-steering trailer axles mover pulling a dolly with a fifth-wheel of this type. That may ring durability alarm favours mechanical solutions. This is coupling that in turn is coupled to a bells among sceptical fleet engineers. Fliegl how the CLG avoids breakdowns and the Fliegl Fahrzeugbau CLG (Clever Light Guided) for 105 roadtrains semi-trailer. is keen to reassure them. “Mechanical is resulting downtime and costs.” BPW: electro-hydraulic steering.

14 OCTOBER 2018 > COMMERCIAL VEHICLE ENGINEER COMMERCIAL VEHICLE ENGINEER > OCTOBER 2018 15 TRAILER INNOVATION TRAILER INNOVATION

COMPONENTS Components (top-scoring three entries) COMPANY PRODUCT POINTS Lamberet Ergowall moveable bulkhead 112 he top three awards in for multi-compartment, controlled-temperature this category are shared bodywork between four countries. T Takler WheelEasy easy-access 103 How so? Because third spare-wheel carrier for place goes to a join entry from Firestone semi-trailers Industrial Products of the Netherlands Firestone Industrial AirRide Pro and iLvL air 99 and Knorr-Bremse of Germany. An Products and suspension system with electronic sensor from Firestone has Knorr-Bremse electronic levelling control been integrated into a Knorr-Bremse control system for a tri-axle semi-trailer Takler: spare air suspension. Operating engineers may Second place goes to wheel access be surprised that this has not been done what is claimed to be a made easy. before, given the popularity of trailer air “world first” from Takler, suspensions, but it seems not. “Current an Italian group specialising (electronic) levelling control systems in trailer components such use a mechanical lever arm, typically as sideguards, access ladders, mounted between the axle and trailer and load-restraint systems. The CONCEPT chassis,” explains Firestone business Trailer Innovation 2019 prize- development manager Thijs Versteegh. winning Takler product is a fresh “The installation, consisting of several twist on the humble trailer spare wheel “All the handles Talson: boxing clever. mechanical components, is exposed carrier. The WheelEasy is boldly claimed have been created and positioned in oad security, tipper trailer Concept (top-scoring three entries) to the environment and to suspension to be the “only assisted wheel carrier in such a way that the user remains in safe versatility, and a root-and- COMPANY PRODUCT POINTS movements. Wear effects, misalignment, the world”. At the heart of the product is a ergonomic positions, whatever its height,” L branch trailer re-engineering faulty installation or adjustments are stainless-steel, sliding platform employing he says. “It automatically locks into work focused on greater stability Kögel Trailer Novum modular trailer chassis 114 not directly detectable, risking wrong rollers and gas-springs which is said to be and resting positions, without the user and lower kerb weight are the disparate frame and bodywork design trailer height settings and even dangerous easy to operate by anyone, such as a driver, having to do anything. It ensures that topics addressed by the top three entries in Huesker Synthetic Flexcover Combi Plus flexible 103 trailer operation or vehicle damage.” The needing to access the spare wheel, typically the bulkhead is always safely positioned. this category. bag allowing tipper bodywork electronic sensor integral with the airbag because of a puncture. “The operator Exposed surfaces, which are food-safe, Theft of cargo, especially the high-value to switch between solid and liquid loads is far better protected and its software applies a force of only about 20kg to move are reinforced against impacts from fork- variety, is rising sharply across Europe, provides continuous monitoring, he the wheel,” says Takler marketing manager lift trucks and friction from transported according to TAPA (the Transported Asset Talson Trailer Secure Box dryfreight bodywork 99 claimed to be “ultra secure” points out. Simona Simone. “The changed wheel then goods. Risk of corrosion on metal parts Protection Association), a respected, against cargo theft slides back on the carrier. The plate is has been eliminated by using stainless 600-member international standard- taken back to the horizontal position with steel and aluminium parts only.” setting body based in the Netherlands. The a force of only 6kg.” Full production of the Ergowall started total value of truck loads lost to thieves in density foam and polyester composite Easy of use, with due regard for the last month. Europe last year is put at an eye-watering sheets to finish them off. More than this, latest health and safety regulations, is also €105 million (£93 million), up more than wiring built into the composite panel, and at the core of the design of the product 10% on the 2016 total. Small wonder then described as “cage-type”, can be connected taking the top prize in this category. that Dutch trailer-maker Talson Trailer is to any proprietary alarm system which It is the Ergowall, moveable bulkhead confident of finding customers aplenty for would be activated when the panel is for refrigerated bodywork and comes its new Secure Box dryfreight bodywork. penetrated beyond a certain point. As for from Lamberet, one of France’s top What is described as a “layered design” the rear closure, Talson sales manager manufacturers of controlled temperature of sandwich panel is said to make the Johan Verdonschot confidently claims: trailers and bodies. What exactly sets this panels strongly resistant to any attempt by “Our Secure Box features one of the Secure Box body panels: product apart from the many other types villains to cut their way in with grinders or most impenetrable doors on the market. stealing the show. of moveable multi-compartment reefer cutting tools. This includes the roof panels The layered design with optimum grade body bulkhead already on the market? A which are made from “optimum grade” aluminium panels on the outer panel with style longitudinal door-locks.” This, it is Firestone and Knorr-Bremse: question for Lamberet marketing director Lamberet: Ergowall moveable aluminium on the outside, reinforced aluminium omega-profile door frames and claimed, is now the most secure dryfreight novel levelling control system. Quentin Wiedemann. bulkhead. with galvanised steel sheet, with high- finished stainless steel features container box-body on the market.

16 OCTOBER 2018 > COMMERCIAL VEHICLE ENGINEER COMMERCIAL VEHICLE ENGINEER > OCTOBER 2018 17 TRAILER INNOVATION TRAILER INNOVATION

Huesker Synthetic of Gescher, in ENVIRONMENT Germany’s North Rhine-Wetsphalia region, specialises in technical textile materials. What has taken it to second place in the Trailer Innovation 2019 “concept” category? The answer is the bright idea of applying one of these technical textile materials to allow a truck or trailer tipper body built to carry solid Frigoblock: diesel/electric hybrid. bulk material to carry liquids as well. The Flexcover Combi Plus is a giant flexible Thermo King’s arch-rival Carrier storage bag designed to hold liquids Transicold beat it to the top Trailer including fertilisers, pesticides, brine Innovation environment award this and many others. Huesker likes to call year with a Supra truck refrigeration the system “a volume tailgate” which AddVolt: current affairs for truck and trailer refrigeration. unit fuelled by compressed natural gas. can quickly and easily replace a tipper Surprisingly, given the growing popularity body’s standard tailgate, enabling the It can be seen as a measure of the A rather different solution to the of CNG truck engines, this is claimed operator to take advantage of liquid extent of current concern about the same essential problem is offered by the to be the only refrigeration unit of this return loads after an outward trip poor environmental credentials of Frigoblock division of the giant Thermo kind currently available. “The CNG- carrying solid material. conventional, diesel-powered transport King global transport refrigeration group powered Supra was developed to be The trailer-maker with arguably refrigeration units that the top three in the shape of the SLXi hybrid which fully compatible with trucks using a gas the most innovations of all on show point scorers in this category all combines a diesel (or gas or bioethanol) engine, without adding complexity but in Hannover last month is Kögel, of offer alternatives. engine with an electric motor to power offering multiple benefits for users,” says particular interest to UK-based operators Most radical of the three is the plug-in, the refrigeration unit’s compressor. Carrier. “It is easy to operate and because since the appointment last year of lithium-ion battery pack from AddVolt What Frigoblock calls its Enviro-Drive there is one common fuel for both Staffordshire-based Trans UK Equipment of Portugal. It is designed to be bolted on package for a tractive unit comprises an engines, the truck and refrigeration unit Management as its UK distributor. easily to a truck or trailer and enable the alternator and inverter filter. have a single point of refill.” Kögel’s German parent group, diesel-fuelled refrigeration unit to run on Humbaur, has invested heavily in electricity, perhaps in ultra-low emission modernising the company’s two main zones or whenever quiet operation is factories, in Burtenbach, Germany and demanded, perhaps at night in a city. Chocen, Czech Republic. This already “Trucks and trailers equipped with seems to be paying off handsomely with refrigeration units driven by a dedicated orders said be up 50% so far this year diesel engine consume between three compared with 2017. Kögel expects to of wood, aluminium or steel, thus saving Huesker Synthetic: Flex Cover and five litres of diesel per working hour build 18,000 trailers this year. Its latest more weight and considerable driver Combi PLus (above). (around 500 litres per month), emit large design of robot welded chassis frame, inconvenience without, it is claimed, Kögel: Novum modular chassis amounts of carbon dioxide (around 13 called Novum, boasts greater torsional sacrificing anything in load security. frame and bodywork. tonnes per year), have high maintenance stiffness yet significantly lower kerb The Novum’s 114 points from the costs, and a huge level of noise emissions,” weight than its predecessor. A kerb judging panel make it the clear winner of says AddVolt founder and chief executive Carrier Transicold: truck refrigeration fuelled by compressed natural gas. weight as low as 5,550kg is said to be the 2019 concept category. Bruno Azevedo. “AddVolt’s engineers easily achievable, for instance, with a identified the need/opportunity and Environment (top-scoring three entries) standard Novum Cargo tri-axle curtain- developed the world’s first plug-in COMPANY PRODUCT POINTS sider. Weightsaving on the latest Kögel electrical solution to run the refrigeration coil-carrier curtain-sider is even more unit always in electric mode, while the Carrier Transicold Supra truck refrigeration unit fuelled 111 impressive: as much as 410kg compared truck is parked and/or during transport Europe by compressed natural gas (CNG) with the previous model. on roads. The solution is very easy to Thermo King SLXi hybrid (diesel/electric) trailer 106 And the company’s list of innovations install by any bodybuilder and simple to group’s Frigoblock refrigeration unit drive system does not end with the chassis frame. A use by the driver and maintenance team.” division novel load restraint system for curtain- A regenerative braking system is used to AddVolt Bolt-on and plug-in electrical 99 siders, called FastFix, employs textile top up battery charge while the truck or drive system for truck and trailer refrigeration units straps in place of conventional slats made trailer is on the move.

18 OCTOBER 2018 > COMMERCIAL VEHICLE ENGINEER COMMERCIAL VEHICLE ENGINEER > OCTOBER 2018 19 TRAILER INNOVATION TRAILER INNOVATION

SAFETY Safety (top-scoring three entries) SMART TRAILER COMPANY PRODUCT POINTS Bernard Krone Smart Trailer Check digital system 113 for trailer walk-around safety checks, This was probably the hardest-fought employing tablet computers and Companies from France, the Netherlands of all categories this year, with no fewer “augmented reality” and Germany ended up in contention for than 14 entries. At the top of the list when the top three honours in this category. all points were counted are three familiar BPW iGurt electronic buckle for monitoring 109 Third place goes to D-Tec Products of the tension of load-securing straps Trailer Innovation names: Wabco, BPW Netherlands for its on-board container and Krone. Wabco Trailer EBS new-generation electronic 99 weighing system, development A new generation of trailer electronic braking system for trailers of which was prompted by the braking systems (EBS) comes from introduction two years ago of a Wabco, a giant multinational component new international law requiring and system supplier with its head office that logistics companies and in Belgium. The new Wabco EBS is freight forwarders always stipulate available in four variants. Tyre the actual laden weight of pressure monitoring is said to shipping containers. be one of the functions built “Using the D-Tec system makes in as standard with all variants it unnecessary to drive additional D-Tec: detecting demand for container-weighing system. but blind spot monitoring is kilometres looking for a weighbridge,” there only with the more costly says marketing assistant Joanne Arends. “premium” variant. “We have a solution that can function BPW has earned a reputation worldwide and can exchange details such for coming up with several as verified gross mass worldwide.” Wabco: practical bright ideas since it stepped taking EBS to The latest refrigerated semi-trailer up diversification away from its core the next level. from Chereau of France is claimed to axle- and suspension manufacturing be the first anywhere with a multiplex activity. Here is another to add to the list: before the trip starts by means of the electrical system, using CAN-bus the curiously-named iGurt “ intelligent Krone telematics unit on the trailer and (controller area network) technology of strap monitoring system” for load the Krone Smart Collect system. This the kind that has long been familiar on retaining straps. In essence, this is a sort allows the driver to check the trailer powered vehicles of all kinds. “For the of electronic buckle which continuously efficiently, thus contributing to road first time, a tractor and its trailer can measures and displays strap tension. safety, while the fleet operator has greater fully communicate with each other,” says Should the tension drop below a pre-set instant transparency on the current state BPW: feeling the tension, Chereau marketing director Christophe level, the driver is warned by means of a of the trailer.” electronically. Danton. “Our Next trailer is also the Chereau: Next-generation trailer multiplexing. smartphone app linked by Bluetooth to technological base for future autonomous the iGurt system. vehicles. All trailer equipment is linked Pillar one is TrailerConnect, But even this clever system was together on a network, so information involving data from sensors all over trumped in the safety category this about its status can be shared.” the trailer including brakes, tyres, door year by the Smart Trailer Check system But the 128 points amassed by Schmitz locks, temperature sensors and the from Bernard Krone, Germany’s (and Cargobull, Europe’s biggest trailer-maker, refrigeration unit. probably Europe’s) second biggest proved unbeatable in this category this Pillar two, TrailerConnect TCU3, is trailer-maker. Kurt Kunz is Krone’s year. The company’s Trailer Connect described by Reichwein as “the fruit of research and development manager. “All SmartTrailer system is claimed to set a new 20 years experience of trailer telematics.” the driver needs is a mobile device such standard in the field of trailer telematics. The unit stores temperature data going as a smartphone or tablet computer,” Marco Reichwein is managing back up to twelve months, controls he explains. “Using augmented reality, director of the Schmitz group’s Cargobull door locks, controls and records tyre information is visually depicted, Telematics division. He says that the new pressures, records brake wear, and battery superimposing images or information reefer telematics system comprises condition. The TCU3 can be retrofitted alongside actual surroundings. And “four pillars”, designed to please not to old trailers and is compatible with information from the walk-around check only operators but also their customers other, non-Schmitz telematics systems, Schmitz Cargobull: 3D cameras process is sent to the truck operator Bernard Krone: how smart can a trailer be? and drivers. it is claimed. and telematics.

20 OCTOBER 2018 > COMMERCIAL VEHICLE ENGINEER COMMERCIAL VEHICLE ENGINEER > OCTOBER 2018 21 TRAILER INNOVATION

Pillar three, TrailerConnect Portal 2.0, Smart trailer (top-scoring three entries) can host a vast array of data regardless of trailer and refrigeration unit type. The COMPANY PRODUCT POINTS system’s on-line display includes vehicle Schmitz Cargobull Telematics Load Compartment 128 location, internal trailer temperatures and Detection, load area door openings. Temperature settings and monitoring system using 3D cameras door locks can be controlled and adjusted remotely. Geo-fencing can be used to Chereau Multiplexing system, called 119 prevent the doors from being opened Next, for refrigerated outside of predetermined locations. semi-trailers Pillar four is a cellular phone and tablet D-Tec Products On-board weighing and 106 computer app called beSmart. The main track-and-trace system for idea of this is to enable truck drivers to shipping containers more easily control SmartTrailer systems such as the refrigeration unit and door locks. The app can even be used to trigger a for condition monitoring and temperature recording printer. predictive maintenance. The Peter-Hendrik Kes, boss of the Schmitz Schmitz Smart Services system group’s parts and service division, believes started in 2002. Now the that no other trailer-maker is as advanced maintenance history of around as his company in using telematics 650,000 trailers are on file.

22 OCTOBER 2018 > COMMERCIAL VEHICLE ENGINEER NEWS FROM THE NORTH NEWS FROM THE NORTH ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN

TruckScotScene Originally published in

Volvo FH420 eight wheeler with Fassi crane in the livery of MB Plant, Peterhead. Photo: Sharon Moffat. One of a pair of Renault T Range 6x2 tag axle Pat Munro of Alness recently put this new units to join the fleet of Steven Barclay. Mercedes Econic, six wheel refuse collection Photo: Ian Lawson. wagon on the road. Photo: Ian Lawson.

The second S580 Next Generation Scania, taken DAF XF Super Space cab from Edward MacKay with livered curtain, to join the DM Carnegie of Brora who had two trucks running from fleet about to make her first trip. Netherglen Quarry into the new business park Photo: Alan Shearer. outside Elgin. Photo: Sharon Moffat.

An Iveco Stralis 330 six wheeler loaded with Brand new addition the IG Currie fleet in New addition to the fleet of B&M Steel, C Range Tridem hook loader, one of several a couple of Marshall Trailers from Graham forestry spec. The Volvo FH4 500 is loaded with Aberdeen. Smart DAF CF Euro 6 rigid driven by new Renault trucks to join the fleet of Barclay Mutch Transport, Elgin. Photo: Sharon Moffat. a Cat bulldozer. Photo: Alan Shearer. Alexander Morrison. Photo: Alan Shearer. Transport, Inverness. Photo: Darren Green.

24 OCTOBER 2018 > COMMERCIAL VEHICLE ENGINEER COMMERCIAL VEHICLE ENGINEER > OCTOBER 2018 25 POINTSNEWS FROM OF VIEW THE NORTH NEWS FROM THE NORTH ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN

One of three Mercedes Actros 630 6x2 mid-lift Rare DAF95 400 Space Cab still puts in a load tractor units supplied to Grampian Continental. or two for McDonald Haulage Contractors, Photo: Ian Lawson. Invergordon. Photo: Darren Green.

THOMPSONS SERVICETECH SUPPORTS MONKS ENTIRE FLEET

North of England specialist haulage company takes full benefit from Thompsons ServiceTech’s ability to provide a full range of product support services, for both new trucks and those already hard at work. Fresh looking Scania Topline 164L 480 V8 in VG New crane on its first run to Kilbraur Windfarm Mathers, Aberdeen livery. Photo: Darren Green. for Whyte Crane Hire. Photo: Peter Sutherland. ow running a total of 50 artics ‘Before they go on the road, our tractors that any truck can do, and on intensive, and rigids on waste collection, all go to ServiceTech for the fitting of short-haul work the Monks trucks can do landfill and recycling work, their hydraulics and wet kits,’ says Chris. this up to six times per day. This is where Lancashire-based Monks ‘Thompsons must have done over 50 the double drive tractors and their high NContractors has an ongoing need for tractor wet kits for us by now. We see this capacity all steel 95cu.yd ejector trailers professional backup and support that goes as a specialist area of engineering so we really come into their own, manoeuvring beyond the established schemes already want the people with the most knowledge and reversing over soft, uneven ground offered by the truck chassis manufacturers. and experience doing the work. Similarly, before tipping up to 20 tonnes of general ‘Thompsons ServiceTech gives us a level we need a proven, professional level of refuse each time. of support that’s genuinely hard to beat,’ response if there’s ever a problem with a Interestingly, ejector trailers are much says director Chris Monk. ‘Where it really vehicle in service. preferred to walking floors for this work scores is in the range of services it offers ‘Recently we had just such an issue with due to their much faster load discharge, The livery of Whyte for specialist components and bodywork.’ a faulty pump with one of our vehicles stuck typically around three minutes, with the Crane Hire heavy The Monks Contractors fleet features a on a landfill site. ServiceTech responded added advantage that as the load is pushed crane division in wide range of top spec, heavy-duty trucks immediately, came to the site, got the unit rearwards and out onto the ground the Grangemouth unmistakable on that are carefully configured to make swapped over and the truck was soon on whole truck is also pushed forwards and this Scania Topline light work of their arduous tasks. Notable its way. That’s the real world we all work in, out of its ‘settled’ position on the soft Streamline R580 V8 among these are six recently delivered and it’s good to see others having the ability ground surface. 6x4 heavy tractor unit Renault double-drive tractors, a wide to respond quickly and professionally when With vehicles operating in such arduous plated for 150 tonnes, variety of Volvo FH 6x2 and 6x4 tractors, the need arises.’ conditions, effective maintenance support with Alcoa Dura- Bright wheels. FMX 8x4 rigids and, most recently, Loading bulk waste into tall, high is vital to keep the trucks moving, which is Photo: Darren Green. a pair of brand new ‘68’ registered Scania capacity trailers followed by tipping out why Monks now also relies on Thompsons XT hookloaders. on landfill sites is among the hardest work ServiceTech for many of its ad hoc needs

26 OCTOBER 2018 > COMMERCIAL VEHICLE ENGINEER COMMERCIAL VEHICLE ENGINEER > OCTOBER 2018 27 NEWS FROM THE NORTH NEWS FROM THE NORTH ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN

such as routine trailer servicing and repairs. hours of periodic training, a new card In particular, reliable hydraulic systems are THE TRUCK ADVOCATE was issued. So for example, if you held a central to the smooth working of Monks’ card that expired in September 2019 but ejector trailers, both for the ram that pushes completed your 35 hours in September out from the front bulkhead and also in GRT is a transport and training organisation specialising in road transport 2016, your new card would have validity operating the lifting rear door. legislation and regulation, offering a range of commercial vehicle compliance from September 2016 to September 2024. Trailers working with waste are services, advising on a number of issues, and operating across Scotland and the However, this was changed a couple particularly prone to incidental damage as north of England. of years ago, and now drivers will only well, all of which makes the availability of In conjunction with Transport News, GRT presents this regular Q&A column receive their new card within the last 12 speedy and efficient repairs invaluable. For dealing with compliance and legislation issues relating to road haulage. Readers months validity of their current card. all these reasons, Thompsons ServiceTech who have any queries can call 01236 422517, visit grtconsultants.com Your card issue date will be synchronised has become Monks’ ideal service partner. or post questions on Twitter page, @GRTConsultants. to the date when your last 35 hours Located on a purpose-built six-acre site was completed. halfway between Preston and Blackburn, Chris and Louise Monks Q I am a transport manager for To take the example above, the new 2018 sees Monks celebrating its 25th year a company with a large fleet qualification will be valid from January in business. ‘It all started with a single One of the key reasons for Monks’ into a major supplier of specialist of vehicles. I have been told by 2019 until September 2024, so the new agricultural tractor and a handy knowledge success is that despite its current 90-plus engineering services covering all management that vehicles below card should arrive this coming January. of mechanics,’ says Chris, ‘but year on year headcount, the company is still very much types of vehicles employed across the 3.5 tonnes are not within my remit as we’ve just done more and more, and now a family firm operated with a strong family tipping, waste, utility and environmental CPC holder. Is this accurate? Q We have a vehicle that has been we’re active in other areas too, such as plant ethos. Jointly owned and run by Chris services industries. off road for some time. Do we hire and drainage services. and his wife Louise, their daughters As manager Nathan Ewins notes, All vehicles being operated Without being too technical, there is have to remove it from our operator ‘As far as the haulage side goes, moving Hannah and Lauren are also highly active ‘ServiceTech now offers truck operators a A commercially, irrespective of weight, more than one type of asbestos classified licence? If we keep it allocated to the waste has almost limitless future potential, in the business. virtually unlimited range of services for should be diligently managed by the user. under ADR: Amphibole and Chrysotile. licence, do we still need to have safety especially with the huge emphasis now So what’s next for this steadily growing bodywork and specialist components. We Whilst vehicles less than 3.5 tonnes do For Asbestos Amphibole, 333kg can inspections carried out even though it’s being put on recycling. Right now, on enterprise? Whatever else happens in can supply and fit everything from tractor not require to be allocated to an operator be carried before full application of ADR not in use? transport our recycling ratio to landfill is the UK economy, the waste and recycling kits, catwalks, cranes and sheeting systems licence, they must still be properly regulation is required; for Chrysotile, about 80/20, and it’s increasing all the time. industry can only get bigger, which in turn through to complete new skiploaders and maintained and managed to ensure 1,000kg can be carried. A When you decide for whatever In moving recyclable products we’re also gives the whole Monks operation particular hookloaders, all backed up by extensive general compliance. That means ensuring That means that whilst the load must reason that a vehicle will not be traveling much further afield, as well confidence in its future. facilities for repair, refurbishment, they are roadworthy, defects are quickly still be properly packaged and labelled, operated, you have the opportunity to as taking woodchip to power stations As a result, the workshop area is shotblasting and paint. Our relationship identified and promptly rectified, it does not require the driver to hold remove it from your operator licence and in Scotland. now being extended to include a DVSA with Monks goes back some 15 years, vehicles are not overloaded and that ADR qualification. return the vehicle disc to DVSA or place approved MOT test bay, which will provide which suggests there’s real value in drivers are returning any necessary Anything above those levels however, a notice on the vehicle stating that it’s WALKING FLOOR TRAILERS an invaluable facility as the fleet continues everything we do.’ paperwork/records. and ADR would apply. Asbestos is classed V.O.R (vehicle off road). to grow. Further aiding vehicle productivity Chris Monk concludes by saying, ‘In our It must be noted that any prohibitions as a miscellaneous substance (class 9) and If the vehicle is only scheduled to be off For all this work, our 6x2 Volvo FHs is an on-site waste shredding facility experience, the range of services, capability accrued by these vehicles can adversely a driver would require the qualification road for a short period, you should place working with lighter maximum capacity which helps to ensure that trailers carrying and depth of expertise that ServiceTech impact your licence through the Operator in packages. a notice within the vehicle inspection file alloy-bodied walking floor trailers are products for recycling are fully loaded. offers are quite unique. As a result, we trust Compliance Risk Score (OCRS) system. If you carry hazardous waste like on the day it is removed from service. On ideal vehicles. As for Thompsons, it’s been just two them with not only delivering many of the If the above vehicles do not come into asbestos, and think that you might be in this notice should be the vehicle mileage Whilst the core of the Monks fleet are short years since ServiceTech was set up as specialist requirements on our new vehicles, your remit as transport manager (i.e. the scope of ADR, GRT provide regular and a short explanation detailing why it’s artics, rigid 8x4 hookloaders are steadily a separate business unit within the parent but also in looking after those already on what has been outlined in your contract of initial training courses in Glasgow. Visit not being operated. becoming more prominent, these being group. ServiceTech has now blossomed the road when needing servicing or repairs.’ employment), they should be managed and our website for dates and more info. If the vehicle is still off road by the used not just for collecting waste from monitored by another member of staff. time the next safety inspection is due, industrial premises but also bins at local Q My CPC Driver Qualification an inspection report should still be authority operated household waste sites. Q I work for a waste recycling Card (DQC) expires on 9 completed with the date and vehicle Drawing Monks and Thompsons even company and was recently stopped September 2019. I completed my last mileage detailed along with V.O.R to closer together is the fact that ServiceTech by DVSA. The examiner asked me if I course in January this year but still highlight the fact the vehicle isn’t in use. is now one of the UK’s leading suppliers ever transport asbestos and advised that haven’t received my new card. When Prior to the vehicle returning to of hookloaders and skiploaders, with the if I do, I would require an ADR licence. will this arrive? service, a full safety inspection must result that Thompsons has fitted and Is this true? be carried out. This inspection should supplied six new hookloaders to Monks in A In the past, JAUPT issued DQCs be in addition to the other scheduled the last year, four on Volvo FMX chassis A This is true, but it’s not a that had more than five years dates in order to keep within the agreed and two on Scania XTs. Hannah and Lauren Monk Nathan Ewins straightforward ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ answer. validity. As soon as you completed 35 inspection intervals.

28 OCTOBER 2018 > COMMERCIAL VEHICLE ENGINEER COMMERCIAL VEHICLE ENGINEER > OCTOBER 2018 29 PEOPLE PEOPLE

onathan Wood has been promoted PEOPLE to global components engineering Jvice president at Cummins, a giant US-based multinational engine and power systems manufacturing group with extensive UK operations. Mr Wood avid Gregory has has been research and engineering Bryan Sitko and Barry Hodgson joined Tiger Trailers, a executive director at the group’s “emissions fast-growing Cheshire- solutions” division, based alongside the D based trailer-maker long-established Cummins diesel engine Jonathan Wood ong careers in commercial and bodybuilder set manufacturing plant in Darlington, County L vehicle engineering are far from up four years ago by brothers Steven Durham, since April 2017. For nearly uncommon. But passing the half- and John Cartwright, to take charge of seven years before that he was research century mark nevertheless always health, safety and environmental (HSE) and engineering executive director at warrants celebration. So it is at the matters. Mr Gregory is a health and Huddersfield, West Yorkshire-based Leyland Trucks plant in Lancashire safety specialist who has worked for the Cummins Turbo Technologies. Both these and Optare’s bus-manufacturing site past ten years at the giant GE group’s operations are part of a global components near Leeds, West Yorkshire. oilfield services and products divisions, division, headed by Tracy Embree, and At Leyland Trucks is a DAF Trucks latterly as “HSE leader” at Skelmersdale, encompassing electronics and fuel systems, Tracy Embree sister company in the Paccar group. Lancashire-based Baker Hughes. For turbochargers, filters and exhaust emissions Most DAF trucks for the UK market three years before that he was health control equipment used on many other says Mrs Embree, Cummins Components are assembled there. Overall average and safety adviser at Indesit, an Italian engines as well as Cummins’ own. president. “His technical oversight of our employment span is put as high as 18 manufacturer of domestic appliances. Mr Wood joined Cummins in 2005 product development programmes globally years. But some who have worked at “Dave’s vast amount of experience in David Gregory as advanced engineering programme for different emissions levels is critical to Leyland for as long as 25, 40 and even the area of health and safety will be a leader. His posts since then include our success.” 50 years were singled out recently for significant benefit to Tiger Trailers, and heavy-duty turbocharger chief engineer Mr Wood recently outlined how long-service awards. strengthen our reputation as a socially and director of engineering in the group’s engineering teams at Cummins “It is always a great pleasure to responsible business,” says joint managing Asia operation. He has a master’s degree Emissions Solutions and Cummins thank long-serving staff for all their director John Cartwright. “All of us at in mechanical engineering from the Turbo Technologies are now working hard work and commitment,” says Tiger look forward to working with Dave University of Sheffield. more closely together than ever to meet Leyland Trucks managing director as we continue to develop our already “Jonathan has shown a commitment to the challenges facing all diesel engine Bryan Sitko. “Leyland Trucks employs outstanding culture of safety awareness.” technical excellence throughout his career,” manufacturers at present . over 1,000 people, who together have a He and his brother quit the Cartwright- staggering amount of expertise.” family-owned Cartwright Group of Manufacturing engineering Altrincham four years ago to set up a manager Barry Hodgson this month new company following an acrimonious chalks up a half-century of truck- split with other Cartwright family building at Leyland. “I started my members over business development working life as a young lad at Leyland plans. Sceptics doubted that there was Motors,” he says. “It was a very room in the highly competitive UK truck different company in those days as we and trailer bodywork market for a new manufactured a lot of the components entrant starting from scratch but the Tiger that went into the trucks and buses we Trailers success story so far has proved built. Factories were spread through them wrong. The workforce has grown the heart of the town of Leyland and fast to around 200 at present, and a new, further beyond, and the business purpose-built manufacturing plant in offered me many opportunities. There Winsford, Cheshire is due to be opened have been highs and lows, and I have officially within two months. worked in several areas of the business. “This is a fantastic opportunity to work Fifty years seem to have passed by very in such a fast-growing business and at quickly but they have given me some such a pivotal moment, with the company fond memories, and of course I’m still shifting to its new state-of-the-art facility in Tiger Trailers: growing order book, including a first from Ryder, for 15 adding to them.” December,” says Mr Gregory. curtainsiders on its Woodland Group contract.

30 OCTOBER 2018 > COMMERCIAL VEHICLE ENGINEER COMMERCIAL VEHICLE ENGINEER > OCTOBER 2018 31 PEOPLE PEOPLE

welve months after acquiring Tructyre, a big Hampshire- “We will also be in the unique position of having the only truly based tyre management and services company specialising consistent national offering for local, regional and national heavy T in heavy commercial vehicles, Michelin has unveiled plans fleet customers. Our goal is to ensure we provide continuity and to merge the business with its ATS Euromaster tyre distribution consistently high levels of service. We will draw upon the expertise operation. The new division is to be called Tructyre ATS and will of both organisations and utilise the latest tyre management focus on vehicles at 3.51 tonnes gvw (gross vehicle weight) and technology to deliver first-class service and maximum fleet uptime.” above, including trucks, trailers, buses and coaches, leaving ATS Martin Kellett is ATS Euromaster group managing director. Euromaster to concentrate on lighter vehicle tyres and vehicle “Our goal is to achieve long-term sustainability,” he says. “To that maintenance. The plan is understood to be to try to replicate end, it makes sense for us to separate the two very different sides Tructyre’s successful southern England business model throughout of our business. By setting ourselves up in this way, our teams the UK, with four additional regional Tructyre ATS managing will be able to deliver tailored support and the highest standards directors: for the south-west, midlands, north and Scotland. of dedicated customer service. This will also create significant John Seale It remains to be seen whether the new operation will need to opportunities for our people whose experience and talent will form recruit additional employees. ATS Euromaster says that “selected the core of each business.” staff” will be transferring to the five Tructyre ATS regions. ohn Seale, senior sales Steve Abrahams ATS Euromaster is reckoned to be the UK’s biggest tyre and marketing engineer distributor with around 330 sites, 700 service vans and around Jat Optare for the past teve Abrahams, a vehicle “It was a nerve-wracking experience but 2,300 employees. Tructyre grew consistently after being three years, retires this month glass fitter based in I’m beyond happy.” established in 1996. Its workforce now includes around 130 after a 53-year career in bus and S Chesterfield, Derbyshire, is Two other Auto Windscreens technicians based at 25 service centres in southern England. coach engineering. That career among the latest winners in technicians from the UK were among this Glenn Sherwood is Tructyre’s founder and has remained as started in 1965 at Metro Cammell a global annual skills competition run by year’s Auto Glass Week finalists. They are chief executive following the Michelin acquisition. “Tructyre ATS Weymannn which he joined as an a US-based organisation. Mr Abrahams, Tom Barker and Craig Richmond-Cole. is set to become the largest service provider in the UK specialising apprentice draughtsman. Mr Seale who works for the Auto Windscreens “It was an absolute pleasure to witness in the management of tyres for heavy vehicle operators,” he says. left the company 23 years later to business run by a company called Trifords, Steve in action and I’m ecstatic with how all pursue his ambition to produce part of the sprawling Markerstudy group three of our technicians performed at the his own design of bus and coach of insurance companies and associated event under intense pressure,” says Auto bodywork at C G Whittaker (Europa businesses, last month won the “large Windscreens managing director Rupert Coaches), based in Doncaster, South company” category in the finals of a Armitage. “They have all done us proud Yorkshire. Subsequently, following technician competition run by Auto Glass and expertly showcased our technical the company’s crash, he became Week, a publication owned by a Virginia- excellence on an international playing field.” engineering design manager at based publishing and event-organising The Auto Windscreens operation, Autobus Classique, later acquired company, Key Communications. based in Chesterfield, has around 400 by Optare. Among other top award-winners employees and is one of the UK’s biggest After a brief spell in caravan in the 2018 skills competition finals, vehicle glass repair specialists. But it has design, Mr Seale returned to the held in San Antonio, Texas together a chequered history. mainstream bus and coach world. with an Auto Glass Week conference The business was established originally Seven years ago he rejoined and exhibition, are Jason Martin of in Chesterfield by a local entrepreneur, Optare, now part of the India- Florida in the “regular-sized company” Brian Holmes. Subsequently it was based Ashok Leyland group, as category; Suzanne Allen of Texas in the bought and sold by a string of giant homologation engineer. He has been “windshield repair” category; and Josh companies, including the HSBC bank, senior sales and marketing engineer Bradley of South Carolina in the “auto Lex Service, insurance company Aviva, since 2015. glass technician calibration” category. and German investment firms. “Working in a job that you have a Mr Abrahams is no stranger to the In 2011 Auto Windscreens went real passion for is a privilege enjoyed Auto Glass Week skills competition. He into administration. In what seemed by few,” he says. “I am fortunate came third in 2016 and was runner-up last like a carefully pre-planned move, the that I have been able to achieve my year. His rewards this year for winning the huge Markerstudy group of insurance ambitions. People are an important “large company” category include a cash companies, claims-management firms part of this industry and I will miss prize of US$5,000 (£3,700). and at least one body-repair business them the most. I would not have “I felt like I had unfinished business (Tonbridge Coachworks), set up Trifords been able to make this journey following last year and am absolutely specifically to buy some Auto Windscreen without them.” over the moon to be bringing the winner’s assets, including rights to the brand Tructyre ATS: set to become UK’s biggest truck tyre trophy back home to the UK,” he says. name, from the administrators. specialist service provider.

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