Busy motorway at twilight

Will FTA Van Excellence van driver competence course help stave off new regulation?

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Busy motorway at twilightWill van drivers be subject to additional regulation and training requirements in the future, as lorry and bus drivers already are?

With overloading and poor maintenance common in vans under 3.5t, it’s definitely a possibility. However, one way of stemming the tide of red tape might be greater self-regulation by van operators themselves.

One initiative that’s gained momentum since its launch in 2010 is the Freight Transport Association’s Van Excellence initiative, among whose members are van hire firm Hertz Van Rental.

Until recently, the Van Excellence initiative has been targeted at fleet operators and transport managers, who attend a half-day training session and are then expected to implement the code across their fleet.

The Van Excellence Code is very much a cut-down version of the areas of competence an HGV certificate of professional competence (CPC) holder must demonstrate in order to run a lorry fleet. The focus on areas of responsibility such as van maintenance, load safety and driver compliance.

Van Excellence has now taken another step forward towards mirroring the regulation regime for HGVs by introducing a Certificate of Driver Competence. This appears to be similar in intent to the mandatory HGV drive Certificate of Professional Competence. The Van Excellence CDC focuses on a broad range of areas, including pre-use vehicle checkes, rules of the road, load safety and green and safe driving.

Like the HGV driver CPC, the FTA certificate has a three-year validity. Feedback from the inaugural course, which was attended by fleet management representatives rather than drivers, was positive.

Attendee Simon Pill, Iceland Foods Ltd Delivered Sales Project Manager said:

“The Van Excellence course was a really good day of learning, well facilitated and extremely useful.”

Another delegate, Andy Blythe, who is National Logistics Manager at Alliance Healthcare, commented:

“This is a terrific step forward for the van driver population and industry sector.”

I imagine that as with the HGV Driver CPC, many van drivers will think that the Van Excellence CDC certificate as being akin to teaching their grandmothers to suck eggs. Yet it might be preferable to a legally-required alternative.

I can see major fleets continuing to sign up to Van Excellence and to this new certification scheme for drivers, in order to improve the questionable reputation of ‘white van man’ and stave off the risk of further regulation. I’d imagine that it’s also a cost-effective way to help minimise liability under corporate manslaughter rules.

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Save up to 8% on Hertz Van Rental at selected locations [EXPIRED]

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Additional terms and conditions may apply. See Hertz website for details.

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Terms and conditions may apply. See Hertz website for details.

ISS Renault Master Tipper

Off-the-shelf conversion option helps Renault win 123-unit tipper order

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ISS Renault Master TipperOver the last few years, all the main van manufacturers have been rolling out ranges of off-the-shelf conversions.

These are converted chassis cab models with EU type approval which are available to order directly from main dealers.

Buying — say — a tipper in this way has obvious attractions for a fleet operator when compared to organising your own conversion and ensuring that the converter you are using is able to fit a type approved conversion to the base vehicle of your choice.

Given all of this, it’s no surprise that facility services provider ISS recently opted to buy 123 Renault Master Tippers for a new contract through the French firm’s off-the-shelf conversion programme.

ISS Renault Master Tipper

ISS has opted for the twin-wheel RWD Master in both medium-wheelbase single cab and long-wheelbase crew cab versions. The firm also bought a number of beavertail vehicles, such as the one pictured above.

The vehicles feature 45-degree rear-tipping ‘Scattolini’ bodies, fitted by accredited Renault supplier VFS, and each tipper has been specified with an optional heavy duty towing upgrade, allowing them to tow up to 3.5 tonnes, along with an electronic steering lock for added security.

Nigel Rowden ISS UK Group Fleet Manager said:

“ISS has been working with Renault for many years and as a strategic partner, they were able to deliver a seamless service, from order to delivery, at the best TCO, after stiff competition from our other suppliers, for the 123 tippers required to deliver this service to our new customer, around the UK.”

The Renault Master is available as a chassis cab or platform cab and with a variety of manufacturer approved conversions that give operators the unbeatable convenience of a ‘one-stop-shop’ approach to specifying their vehicle and choosing between different weights, lengths and engines.

In addition to the Tipper, ‘ready-made’ Master conversions include a Dropside, Box Van and Luton Loloader.

BCA van auction (courtesy of BCA)

Used van prices rise in September — a return to normality?

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BCA van auction (courtesy of BCA)

BCA van auction (courtesy of BCA)

Used van prices rose by an average of £100, or 1.8%, in September, according to auctioneer BCA, compared to August.

However, compared to September last year — a more usual comparison — the average sale price only rose by £47 to £5,607. That’s despite a 5,000 mile drop in average mileage, and a slight reduction in average age.

Perhaps more significant is that the average percentage of CAP (book) price achieved has fallen from 103.9% in September 2014 to 99.8% in September 2015. In my view this suggests prices are reverting to more normal levels, relative to age, condition and book.

This is a view shared by Duncan Ward, BCA’s LCV Operations Director:

“We are now seeing the return of more typical market conditions with balanced supply and demand and elements of seasonality taking effect. The market was strong in September with average values increasing across the board and good levels of demand from buyers for well presented, good quality commercial vehicles.”

Ex-fleet/lease prices falling

Ex-fleet/lease vans are usually under four years old, in good condition and with one large corporate or public sector owner from new.

As such, they are desirable second-hand buys and a realistic alternative to a new van for many van operators. This also makes them a good barometer of used van market conditions, in my view.

The average price for an ex-fleet/lease van fell from £6,550 last September to £6,416 last month, despite average age and mileage remaining broadly unchanged.

What did change was the average sale price relative to benchmark valuations. The average sale price versus CAP fell from 103.5% last September to a more normal 99.3% last month. Similarly, the average sale price versus the manufacturer’s recommended price (MRP) fell from 36.3% in September 2014 to 34.0% last month.

A simple picture

I’m not suggesting that used van prices are falling off a cliff. They aren’t.

But the trend over the last year is clearly one of stagnation and modest decline, especially in the high-volume fleet/lease sector:

BCA used LCV prices 09-2014-15

BCA used LCV prices 09-2014-15 (courtesy of BCA)

The fact that used prices are remaining relatively firm in the face of a surge in new van registrations makes it clear that demand for used vans remains strong.

I may have overstated the downside case in previous posts, but I suspect the trend visible above may have a little further to run yet, before bottoming out.

Hertz Van Rental

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Hertz van supersiteGreat news if you need to hire a van this week.

We have an EXCLUSIVE 10% discount code for Hertz Van Rental.

This code is only available from vanrental.co.uk and is valid for pick-up dates until 8 November 2015.

Here are the details:

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  • Pick-up period: 12 October 2015 until 8 November 2015
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To use this discount code, you need to enter it into the ‘Discount/CDP/Club Code’ field at the bottom of the quote form.

This is not usually displayed when the page loads — you need to tick the ‘Apply a discount code‘ check box first and then you will be able to enter the discount code.

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Terms and conditions may apply for this discount code. Please see the Hertz website for full details.

Caledonian Group Mercedes-Benz vans

Citan Sport scores company car role for Caledonian director

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I’ve written before about the success the Mercedes-Benz Citan is having in the small van market, especially with SMEs who value the combination of style, quality and status it offers.

The director of a Scottish civil engineering company has now taken things one step further and opted for a Citan Sport as his company car.

Caledonian Group Mercedes-Benz vans

Drew Matthews, who is director of Livingston-based civil engineering firm Caledonian Group, recently chose a long-bodied Citan Sport 11 CDI as his personal vehicle.

The new van was ordered alongside 2 new 5.0t Sprinter CDI vans and nine long and extra-long Citan 109 CDI vans for his crews to use.

Commenting on his choice, Mr Matthews said:

“It’s the ideal vehicle for me – practical, with a good load space, but also very comfortable, and a joy to drive. The air-conditioned cab is really well appointed and the Bluetooth system means I can communicate with staff and customers while I’m on the move.”

The Citan Sport is a specced-up model with considerable kerb and driver appeal. It includes a host of extras such as 16-inch alloy wheels, a chrome grille, sidebar and tailgate trims, daytime running lights and colour-coded bumpers and door mirrors. Among the interior enhancements, meanwhile, are a leather steering wheel, special ‘Sport’ mats, air-conditioning and Bluetooth connectivity.

All of the new vans were fitted with safety systems including rear-view cameras, audible reversing warnings, beacon bars and Class 1 reflective markings by the supplying dealer.

Nissan NP300 Navara tailgate

New Nissan NP300 pick-up gets upgraded production line and 5-year warranty

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Nissan NP300 Navara pick-upThe new Nissan NP300 Navara pick-up will be built for European markets at the firm’s factory in Barcelona.

The firm’s flagship Spanish plant has been upgraded for the NP300 and the firm is backing a renewed drive for quality (which was always decent anyway) by launching the new five-year Nissan Light Commercial Vehicle warranty with the NP300.

It’s a big deal for Nissan, not least because the Barcelona plant will also build NP300-derived pick-ups for Renault and Mercedes-Benz. Quality will be paramount, especially where the three-pointed star is concerned.

The new NP300 Navara was engineered for Europe in Nissan’s Technical Centre (NTCE) in Barcelona, where the team developed the new 2.3 litre dCi engine and adapted noise and vibration, steering, suspension and brakes for European customers.

According to Paul Willcox, the chairman of Nissan Europe, the NP300 Navara will benefit from car-like levels of sophistication:

“With 80 years of pick-up heritage, this new NP300 Navara arrives with the off-road ability, durability and loading capacity you would expect from the name.

“What makes the fully-updated Navara truly unique is the driving experience, style and comfort that it inherits from of the Nissan crossover range, like Qashqai, Juke and X-Trail.”

The Barcelona plant has capacity to produce about 120,000 vehicles annually for Nissan, Merc and Renault, and should also generate 1,000 new jobs created once full production is reached.

Ashtray full of cigarettes

Smoking in a car or van with children present is now illegal

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Ashtray full of cigarettes

A new law bans smoking in any vehicle when children are present.

Although all rental vans (and cars) are no-smoking zones anyway, drivers now need to remember that smoking in any vehicle when children are present is now illegal.

Starting from 1 October 2015, new UK legislation makes it illegal to smoke in a vehicle when any under-18s are present.

This applies even if the door, windows or sunroof are open.

The new law provides an extra layer of smoking prevention in addition to the existing rules that ban smoking in any enclosed workplace, include trucks and vans used by more than one person.

By definition all rental vans are non-smoking, but so are almost all company-owned vehicles  — used by only one person means exactly that. It isn’t acceptable to smoke in your van, for example, if you sometimes give your children a lift in it, even if they are not present when you smoke.

Anyone found to be smoking in a vehicle where children are present is liable to be finded £50. This fine can be doubled if the smoker is also the driver.

Renault Trafic van winner at 2015 MPG Marathon

Renault Trafic wins van MPG Marathon with 20% improvement

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The van category in this year’s MPG Marathon was won by a Renault Trafic, which achieved an impressive 57.65mpg over the 300-mile test course.

That’s a 20.35% improvement on the manufacturer’s stated combined cycle fuel consumption figure of 47.9mpg, which is fairly decent itself. The Trafic was a SL27 Energy Dci 120 Sport model, driven by MPG Marathon veteran Dan Gilkes, who is editor of VAN Fleet World, and co-driver Ray Penford.

This year’s win was the second consecutive victory for the Trafic/Gilkes pairing, which topped the LCV category last year with a 55.55mpg score.

Renault Trafic van winner at 2015 MPG Marathon

Dan Gilkes and Ray Penford with their Renault Trafic, 2015 winners of the van category.

Of course, Gilkes and Penford were driving an empty Trafic. Vans aren’t usually empty when they are in use, and more weight equals higher fuel consumption. As anyone who has driven a van knows, it’s quite easy to drive with a very light right foot when there’s no weight in the back.

This wasn’t an advantage enjoyed by RAC Patrol of the Year Ben Wilson, who competed at the MPG Marathon in his new Vito 116 CDi long wheelbase patrol van, laden with his normal selection of more than 500 tools and spare parts.

According to Ben, this meant his van weighed in at around 3,000kg,which I’d estimate is at least 1,000kg more than an empty Trafic.

RAC entry in 2015 MPG Marathon

Despite this significant weight penalty, Wilson recorded an average of 47.57mpg, a whisker ahead of Mercedes’ official combined cycle figure of 47.1mpg. This was enough to put Wilson in third place in the LCV category — and without taking anything away from van winner Dan Gilkes’ fuel-saving credentials, I reckon that’s a very impressive performance.

Other achievements of note include those of second-place van entrants Neil McIntee and Peter Thompson, who squeezed 68.84mpg from their Citroen Berlingo Blue HDi 100 S/S, a 1.98% improvement on the manufacturers’ combined cycle figure of 67.3mpg.

Event organiser and Fleet World publishing director, Jerry Ramsdale, said:

“Congratulations to all the contestants in the light commercial vehicle category in this year’s MPG Marathon.  Their performances show that it isn’t just the latest cars which have made great strides in overall economy and fuel efficiency.

“The latest light commercial vehicles are now more fuel-efficient and more environmentally friendly than ever before, and their achievements this year are a great tribute to the advances made by the participating motor manufacturers,” he said.

The overall winner of this year’s MPG Marathon, the 15th to date, was former professional motorsport manager and rally driver Mick Linford, now an automotive events specialist,  who clocked up an astonishing 104.50 mpg overall in a Peugeot 208 Active Blue HDi.