Van sales soar 26.3% in October – SMMT

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Van registrations rose by an impressive 26.3% in October, taking the total increase for the year-to-date to 11%, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

The figures mean that the overall commercial vehicle market, including trucks, is up by 9.8% this year, compared to the same period last year:

UK van and truck registrations: 2013 and % change on 2012

October % change Year-to-date % change Rolling year % change
Vans 22,473 26.3% 227,477 11.0% 262,257 6.6%
Trucks 5,105 32.0% 39,457 3.2% 46,921 -0.9%
Total 27,578 27.3% 266,934 9.8% 309,178 5.4%

Data courtesy of SMMT (www.smmt.co.uk)The increases come on the heels of a 10% increase in van registrations in September, and October’s data show that as expected (by SMMT), truck registrations have turned around in October and are now positive for the year to-date — although they remain lower on a rolling year basis.

“Both the van and truck markets showed great strength in October boosting the sector by 27.3% and taking the 2013 growth rate to almost 10%,” said Nigel Base, SMMT Commercial Vehicle Manager. “We anticipated this late strength in the truck market and SMMT has raised its forecast for van registrations to 264,100 a 10.2% rise on last year.”

What’s hot, and what’s not?

As always, the increase in registrations was not evenly dividend across the different weight categories and types of CV. In the van market, the biggest percentage increase was in the 2.0-2.5t category, where sales rose by 45% from 2,417 in October 2012 to 3,513 in October 2013.

However, the biggest increase by far in volume terms was in the 2.5t – 3.5t market (Transit-sized vans), where sales rose by 32% from 10,187 in October 2012 to 13,447 in October 2013. This increase suggests that big fleet operators are proceeding with fleet renewal plans and that other big buyers — such as van hire companies — are also experiencing strong demand for new vans.

Losers in the van category include sub-2.0t vans, where sales fell by 3.3% from 2,718 to 2,629. I believe that this is partly because there simply are not very many sub-2.0t vans anymore — car-derived vans like the Fiesta and Corsa vans are still under 2t, as is the pint-sized Citroën Nemo and its rebadged siblings, but there aren’t really any others anymore, and they form a definite minority market.

In the truck categories, I was interested to see a 41.7% surge in rigids between 3.5t and 6.0t (see my story on this topic yesterday), while sales of rigds over 16t were up by 34%, suggesting that retail, food distribution and construction companies — the main users for this class of vehicle — are feeling more confident about the economy.

Finally, sales of 3-axle artics were up by 36.6% in October, compared to the same period last year, suggesting that operators are biting the bullet and buying into Euro 6 before they are forced to, and that they can see healthy forward demand for their fleets’ services.

All in all, an encouraging picture, if it can be sustained.

Van Hire Price Comparison: How VanRental.co.uk Works (and why we’re different)

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Van hire price comparison results

Our van hire price comparison engine is unique to us and provides live, real-time quotes while you wait (click for a larger image)

Price comparison websites have spread like wildfire in recent years, but like so many things on the internet, they are not always what they appear to be.

Here’s what we do

Here at vanrental.co.uk, we believe price comparison should mean this:

  • We do not add a single penny to the prices we are quoted by the hire companies
  • We only provide live, real-time quotes, we don’t simply calculate a price from a database of standard tariffs
  • We get our prices directly from a number of different suppliers
  • We offer these prices to you in a clear and transparent way
  • We make it clear which company you will be dealing with
  • You make your booking directly with the hire company, not through us

At the time of writing (November 2013), the companies who provide van and minibus hire prices for vanrental.co.uk fall into two categories, rental companies, and brokers (who source hire vehicles from a number of different companies).

  • Europcar (rental company)
  • National (rental company)
  • Hertz (rental company)
  • Thrifty (rental company)
  • Sixt (rental company)
  • Easirent (rental company)
  • Argus Car Hire (broker)
  • Van Hire 3000 (broker – it’s the van hire arm of rentalcars.com)

Our van hire database also contains details of a number of other companies, for who we cannot provide prices but do provide links to their websites. These companies are always listed at the bottom of our price comparison results.

And here’s what we don’t do…

We don’t deal with a single broker and pass off their prices as our own comparison results, without revealing how many suppliers were price-checked, or which company you might actually be renting from.

We don’t promise a comparison but only deliver a list of branches or phone numbers that you have to contact yourself for quotes.

We don’t make you wait — our price comparison results are instant and are obtained from our partner companies while you wait. The price we offer is normally exactly the same as the price you would get if you went directly to the company’s website.

More about vanrental.co.uk

We have close relationships with a number of suppliers and we have developed our own, in-house, price comparison engine, which searches more than 1,200 branches in over 400 UK locations.

We own the vanrental.co.uk name and business and are completely independent. We have no financial ties or special relationships with any of the companies we deal with — they are all equal and no one can ‘buy’ the top spot.

We have been operating a van hire website since 2007, when the site was founded by Roland Head, who had spotted a need for an independent van hire website that provided information as well as hire company details.

From 2007 – 2011 we traded as MyLocalVanHire.co.uk, and in 2011 we moved to the vanrental.co.uk address to mark the launch of our own, unique price comparison system — which we believe is the most comprehensive van and minibus hire price comparison engine in the UK. vanrental.co.uk is still owned and run by its original founder.

Naturally, all of this does cost money — reliable web hosting and skilled web development don’t come cheap.

vanrental.co.uk makes money in two ways: commission payments on sales we generate for our hire partners, and yearly advertising fees from some of the companies who list their branches on our location pages. All advertisers and partners are treated equally — there is no way that any company can buy its way to the top of the results.

What’s more, any website that claims not to charge anything for its services is either: a) dishonest; b) going out of business soon. 

If you have any questions at all about vanrental.co.uk or van hire generally, we’d love to hear from you. You can get in touch by email, tweet us @vanrentaluk or contact us through our Facebook page, facebook.com/vanrentaluk

Save 5% On Hertz Van Rental & Collect Nectar Points With VanRental.co.uk

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Hertz logo

THIS OFFER HAS NOW EXPIRED

Need to hire a van before Christmas? If you’ve got a Hertz branch near you (click here for a list) then you may need our 5% discount code, which is valid until 31st December 2013. Full details below:

Hertz Discount Code:

5% off with Hertz Van Rental and collect Nectar points too….

Valid from: 16th August to 31st December 2013

Code: 778636

>>Click here to visit the Hertz website<<

Hertz is a name that’s associated with car rental all over the world. The company also offers a comprehensive van hire service in the UK with small, medium and long wheelbase panel vans and luton vans available to rent. Hertz also caters to the needs of students, offering student van hire to drivers aged 19 and over.

Updated Citroën Berlingo Delivers Up To 62.8mpg

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Updated 2014 Citroën Berlingo

The Citroën Berlingo has been updated for 2014 and now offers fuel consumption of up to 62.8mpg and lower emissions.

The UK’s best-selling sub-2.5t small van, the Citroën Berlingo, has been updated for 2014.

This Berlingo gains further fuel economy improvements and emissions reductions as well as being refreshed with exterior changes, a new gearbox and more in-cab storage.

From November production onwards the Berlingo range gains a new chrome grille, new side rubbing strips and revised side skirts.  Internally, to increase the Berlingo’s already high levels of in-cab storage, all Berlingo vans and platform cabs now gain a full-width, over-windscreen storage shelf with map reading lights on either side for both driver and passenger.

In addition, all Berlingo Airdream models previously specified with EGS6 automated manual gearboxes will now be equipped with a new ETG6 (6-speed Efficient Tronic Gearbox). The ETG6 gearbox has been developed to provide improved driveability.

The ETG6 gearbox has optimised pedal mapping to adjust power effectively for smoother start-ups and acceleration. Gear change speeds are modulated more precisely, based on driver input, for improved performance and comfort, and its optimised gear shift patterns further improve efficiency.  All Berlingo vans specified with the new ETG6 gearbox also have Electronic Stability Control (ESC), traction control with Hill Start Assist, a passenger airbag, cruise control with driver-adjustable speed limiter and a new Gear Shift Indicator as standard.

The firm’s flagship Berlingo e-HDi 90 Airdream ETG6 model, which features micro-hybrid technology with Stop & Start and the new ETG6, six-speed automated manual gearbox, now delivers CO2 emissions from just 118g/km and a Combined Cycle fuel economy figure of up to 62.8mpg.

Most buyers are likely to opt for the standard Berlingo L1 model powered by the HDi 90, which also benefits from improved fuel consumption and lower emissions and now has a Combined Cycle fuel economy figure of 56.5mpg and CO2 emissions that have been reduced from 138g/km to 132g/km.

Citroën has also completed a programme to optimise payloads, which has resulted in an increase for virtually every Berlingo van.  As a result the baseline Berlingo HDi 90 Manual L1 850 models now have a maximum available payload of 896kg.

Scott Michael, Citroën’s Head of Commercial Vehicles & Business Centre Programme, remarked:

“The latest changes to the Berlingo will enable this popular model to maintain its position at the top of the sales charts.  In the first three quarters of this year the Berlingo outsold all of its competitors in the up to 2.5tonne gvw small van category, proof of its continuing popularity and versatility.  Operators of both large and small fleets, appreciate the Berlingo’s excellent fuel economy of up to 62.8mpg, low running costs and wide choice of models.”

The Berlingo range includes L1 and L2 versions, which provide a maximum load capacity of up to 4.1m3, a 3-seater Extenso® multi-function folding passenger seat (excluding X models), payloads of up to 896kg, a 5-seat crew van, an enhanced traction XTR+ van and a platform cab for special bodywork.

All Berlingo panel vans are fitted, as standard, with Citroën’s unique – and recently enhanced – Trafficmaster telematics platform, which includes Smartnav dynamic satellite navigation system and Trackstar stolen vehicle tracking.

Travis Perkins’ 5-Tonne Isuzu Delivers 7.5t Benefits At 3.5t Costs

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Travis Perkins Isuzu 5-tonnerAchieving the optimum combination of payload, size and running costs is something that most fleet managers strive for, but with varying degrees of success.

After all, from a customer’s point of view, we’ve all seen large vehicles deliver tiny packages — and seen overloaded vans making multiple trips to do a job that one larger truck could do better.

In the south-west of England, Travis Perkins’ Tool Hire Division believes it has hit on a winning formula with its growing fleet of Isuzu 5-tonne light trucks. Travis Perkins has worked with Isuzu Truck and its local dealer to hone the specification to perfection — with the result that its 5-tonners benefit from a 2,000kg payload, compared to 900kg for the equivalent 3.5t light truck model.

The 5-tonne vehicles can also tow a trailer with an addition 2.8t payload, meaning that — for example — a digger and dumper can be delivered in one journey, rather than two for a 3.5t unit.

The 5-tonner’s running costs are only marginally higher than those of the 3.5t truck, and their added payload means fewer journeys — Andy Ray, Group Fleet Manager at Travis Perkins, is thoroughly sold on the concept:

“The new 5.0 tonne Isuzu plugs the gap [between 3.5t and 7.5t] perfectly. For many of our operations this specification is ideal because the Isuzu 5.0 tonner can undertake some of the jobs a 7.5 or 12 tonne truck can do, but at a fraction of the cost.”

A growing trend?

One outcome of the recession seems to have been that larger operators have experimented with weights, especially in the 3.5t – 12t range. By increasing or decreasing weights, and payloads, it’s often possible to achieve surprising efficiencies, as in Travis Perkins’ case.

Transport is always a cost, never and end goal, and price pressure is huge. Given this, perhaps the biggest surprise is that it’s taken some operators (not necessarily Travis Perkins) so long to work it out…

Green Motion Wins Green Fleet Rental Award For 5th Year

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The Green Motion team

Green Motion won the Green Fleet ‘Rental Company of the Year’ Award for the 5th year running in October 2013.

Green Motion Car and Van Hire celebrates being crowned “Rental Company of the Year” by Green Fleet Magazine for the 5th year running at their annual awards ceremony held at the Emirates Stadium on October 17, 2013. Green Motion beat off competition from Hertz, Zipcar and Enterprise.

Richard Lowden, the founder and chairman of Green Motion International said:

“We at Green Motion, both here in the United Kingdom and at our growing overseas operations have continued to work hard to reinforce our position and commitment to the environment. We are absolutely delighted to receive the ‘Rental Company of the Year Award’ for the 5th year running.”

Green Motion has received this accolade to support the company’s work and effort in the provision of offering customers an environmentally proven choice for vehicle rental.

Green Motion is continuing to expand its network in the United Kingdom with the opening of Glasgow International Airport, and West London in 2013, with further locations including Liverpool International airport, and South London planned for the early part of 2014. Along with the expansion within the United Kingdom, Green Motion also celebrated the opening of international locations including Hungary, Iceland, Jordan, Costa Rica and Florida in 2013.

For further information on the Green Fleet Award, please visit www.greenfleetawards.co.uk.

Europcar Signs Exclusive Five-Year Car & Van Hire Deal With ExCeL London

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europcar_logo_new-2013Europcar has secured an exclusive five-year deal to be the official mobility partner of ExCeL London, Europe’s premier venue, which has recently hosted high-profile events including the Olympics, Paralympics and the G20 summit.

The first partnership of its kind to create a mobility centre within an exhibition and conference venue, the new contract begins on 1st January 2014. Ken McCall, Managing Director of Europcar UK and David Pegler, CEO of ExCeL London will mark the launch of the strategic alliance at ExCeL on Monday 4th November at 11am.

Europcar will deliver a transport solution for the whole site, helping to differentiate ExCeL from other exhibition spaces by offering visitors, exhibitors and staff access to a wide range of car and van hire services, including valet parking, a chauffeur-drive service from Prestige at Europcar and airport shuttle buses. In addition, exhibitors and suppliers will be able to hire vans from Europcar’s nationwide network for their trip to ExCeL, benefiting from one-way rentals, as well as delivery and collection, at competitive rates.

A highly visible Travel Hub on ExCeL’s main boulevard will provide visitors and exhibitors with access to Europcar’s global network while as the sole vehicle rental provider for the venue, Europcar will have unique promotional opportunities on the site, as a sponsor partner for major events.

“With over 5 million visitors in 2012, across its 100,000 sqm site, ExCel is London’s biggest venue and as Europe’s largest rental provider, Europcar is the perfect partner,” says Ken McCall, Managing Director, Europcar UK Group ahead of the photocall.  “We are looking forward to working closely with ExCeL to deliver a comprehensive transport and mobility solution, across the entire campus, delivering a premium service for attendees, staff and exhibitors, as well as local residents.

David Pegler, CEO of ExCeL London comments:

“Over the next five years, ExCeL will benefit from Europcar’s network of over 250 locations across the UK and fleet of over 45,000 cars and commercial vehicles, which will help to boost the experience for exhibitors and visitors.  This innovative and unique collaboration is a first for the UK, never before have we seen a mobility centre within an exhibition and convention centre. We strive to offer service excellence and our partnership with Europcar is another example of how we continue to invest in the industry and look at ways we can add value and differentiate ourselves, putting the needs of our customers at the heart of everything we do.”

Jolly Good Vehicle Rentals Expands With Wiltshire Branch In Chippenham

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Jolly Good Van hire logoWrexham-based independent car and van hire firm Jolly Good Vehicle Rentals (formerly known as Jolly Good Van Hire) has continued its franchise-based expansion by opening a new branch in Chippenham, to serve the south-west of England.

The Chippenham branch is the company’s sixth, following its foundation seven years ago — the company also has branches in Wrexham, Shrewsbury, Ely, Colwyn Bay and Deeside.

Jolly Good started out as a van hire business but has expanded to offer cars and campervans over the last few years, hence its recent change of name. On the van side of things, the firm offers small, medium, large and luton vans, as well as crew cab panel vans and 8/9 seat minibuses, such as the VW Caravelle.

Jolly Good also specialises in European van hire (the firm’s details are on our European van hire page) and offers a nationwide vehicle delivery service.

24/7 Maintenance Firm Chooses Mercedes Sprinters For Total Reliability

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Clearway's new Mercedes-Benz SprintersIf you provide a 24/7 service, you are likely to value vehicle reliability and low running costs very highly indeed, a sentiment that was recently confirmed by Leigh Hooper, who is Head of Sales at vacant property maintenance specialist Clearway.

Clearway recently added two Mercedes-Benz Sprinters to its 30-strong fleet and Mr Hooper confirmed that the quality of the vans and the 24/7 aftersales service both played a role in the purchase decision:

“We’ve tried other brands of van but have found that for a variety of reasons the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is far superior.

“We made the change four years ago because we had issues with the reliability and running costs of our previous vehicles. By contrast, not only have our Sprinters given us no trouble at all, they’ve also proved very economical to operate.

“The fact that Sparshatts is a commercial vehicle specialist and understands the needs of businesses that rely on their vans is another key element of the Mercedes-Benz package. Unlike dealers we’ve used in the past, Sparshatts’ Dartford workshop is open through the night so its team are able to service our vehicles at times which suit us. As a company that offers its own customers a 24/7 service, we value that kind of flexibility very highly indeed.”

Both of Clearway’s new Sprinters are medium wheelbase 316 CDI models, powered by smooth and clean 163 hp engines mated to six-speed ECO Gear manual transmissions, designed specifically for vans to improve flexibility and maximise fuel economy by reducing engine speeds.

To further increase fuel efficiency Clearway also specifies its Mercedes-Benz vans with the optional ECO start/stop function, which turns off the engine whenever the vehicle is stopped in traffic, then restarts it as soon as the driver depresses the clutch.

Clearway’s Sprinters are used by two-man security teams who attend vacant properties to undertake a host of tasks, including fitting steel doors and screens, alarm and temporary CCTV systems.

Jones Lang Lasalle Banks On Citroën Berlingo For HSBC Team

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Jones Lang Lasalle Citroen Berlingo vansReal estate management company Jones Lang Lasalle (JLL) has just taken delivery of 77 Citroën Berlingo HDi 75 standard wheelbase vans and 21 Dispatch HDi 90 manual long wheelbase models.

The vehicles will be used by JLL’s specialist service engineers who look after the building maintenance for the HSBC UK banking network, whose remit includes working on air conditioning, lifts, electrics, and plumbing, along with day to day repairs.

After an extensive purchase review that considered capital and whole life costs, Citroën was placed ahead of the competition by JLL.  JLL in particular were very keen on the Berlingo’s standard Citroën Trafficmaster telematics system, which includes Smartnav intelligent satellite navigation and Trackstar stolen vehicle tracking. This system includes the option to upgrade, at low cost, to include Fleet Director real-time fleet management, which enables JLL to supply their engineers with a fully integrated PDA communication system.

JLL spokesperson, Karen Ainge said:

“It is very important to us that our engineers’ vehicles help them deliver their required tasks, the Citroën team understood our requirements and went the extra mile to secure the deal. In particular, the Fleet Director real-time communication system has helped us move our engineers away from form filling to using time efficient and fully connected PDA systems.  Fleet Director made this an easy move for JLL, as it meant we did not have to fit additional hardware into the vehicles.  What’s more, the engineers are very happy with this move.”

JLL’s Berlingo vans are fitted with rear parking sensors and half height bulkheads with upper mesh grilles.  The Dispatch vans have rear parking sensors and full steel bulkheads.  All the vehicles have bespoke Bott racking and tooling, including fold-out vice platforms and general accessories such as skin care systems, first aid kits and fire extinguishers.