The key to digital tachograph compliance - Visit FTA on stand 5041, Hall 5 23 April 2007

The Freight Transport Association features the latest advances in tachograph analysis at this year's CV Show as well as providing visitors with a range of free briefings on the changes to EU drivers' hours regulations, digital tachographs and the new VOSA Operator and Compliance Risk Score (OCRS). FTA's exciting range of digital tachograph analysis services and equipment will be available, including two key new pieces of kit. A new Combined Download Device tool combines the functions of the Driver Card Reader and the Vehicle Unit Download Device in the same equipment. Data is stored on a memory card which can then be simply transferred to a transport office pc providing a flexible solution. Using mobile phone technology, FTA's new and unique Digital Data Postbox Lite provides a cost effective facility for the easy transfer of driver card data from non-manned transport offices. This wireless equipment requires no link with IT systems and is the ideal driver card upload service. The Postbox Lite provides a small and economic solution to the need to transfer material from remote locations for storage and analysis. Briefings on current compliance issues have become an annual feature of FTA's presence at the CV Show. This year FTA will provide free briefings on the changes to EU drivers' hours regulations and the VOSA OCRS. FTA will be running up to five briefings on each day of the show in the Skills Zone, Hall 2, Stand 2044. Visitors to the show will be encouraged to 'have your say' on FTA's stand on three key legislative issues affecting the industry; longer, heavier vehicles, climate change and road pricing. FTA will be collecting the views of the industry on these issues and using them to campaign at local, regional, national, European and global levels.

RHA challenges Road User Pricing 23 April 2007

The Road Haulage Association today challenged the assumption that road user pricing can play a key role in reducing congestion. Launching a keynote paper at the Commercial Vehicle Show in Birmingham, chief executive Roger King said that hauliers know the need for a more efficient roads network more than any other group. They see the earning power of their lorries reduce year on year. “But the idea that pricing is the “cure” has been vastly overplayed. Even if it proves technically possible there is no evidence that it will solve the problem. Meanwhile, it will be intrusive and expensive. “Unfortunately, in selling the idea of road pricing, political spin goes into overdrive. All the political parties seem wedded to the idea of charging in some form as a way of controlling access to the roads. “But it is a distraction from the inescapable fact that we need a strategic roads programme and to invest more in infrastructure – as the government plans to do in both rail and air, where the need is less urgent. “We would support tolls – but only on new roads, as a means to getting them built,” King said. “Road pricing should not be confused with congestion charging in cities, which may have a role to play provided that motorists have a genuine public transport alternative. In such cases, it would be wrong to charge trucks. “We need to refocus the debate on ways to tackle congestion, rather than on a way to tax vehicle users,” King said. The RHA puts forward several suggestions: *Rethink planning. Allow cities to expand, integrating existing and new public transport. *Introduce incentives to encourage home working. *Reduce stamp duty, to encourage people to relocate closer to their work.” King said: “The RHA is the only business representative body openly to express great scepticism about the whole idea of large-scale road pricing. It is not because we are in doubt about the consequences of doing nothing – far from it. “We fear that the solution proposed simply will not deliver the projected results.”

FTA names new board 18 April 2007

The Freight Transport Association announces details of its National Executive Board (NEB) for 2007/8. The NEB is the board of directors of FTA. Five new members join the NEB this year - Roger Burnley, Eddie Fitzsimons, Stewart Oades, Alastair Parker and Perry Watts. The full list of members is: Andy Haines (President) Head of Logistics Tate & Lyle Sugars Adrian Burleton (Vice President) Commercial Director Argos Ltd Rebecca Jenkins (Vice President) Managing Director Wincanton John Coghlan (Treasurer) Chairman Inchcape Shipping Services (UK) Ltd Roger Burnley Supply Chain Director Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd Janet Entwistle Managing Director BT Fleet Eddie Fitzsimons Chief Executive Freightliner Group Stewart Oades Group Chief Executive Christian Salvesen plc Alastair Parker Global Business Manager - Logistics Shell International Petroleum Company John G Russell Chairman & Managing Director John G Russell (Transport) Ltd Chris Thorneycroft-Smith Perry Watts Chief Executive Officer - Retail & Consumer DHL John H Williams Managing Director Maritime Transport Ltd