FTA Lobbying doubles Kerside loading time in London 18 June 2007

Following a campaign of lobbying and working closely with London Councils, the Freight Transport Association has secured agreement to a longer period for loading and unloading at the kerbside - 40 minutes instead of the current 20. The agreement was reached by all 32 London boroughs and the Corporation of London following representations made to them by FTA and TfL's Freight Unit. The changes will allow deliveries to be made for up to 40 minutes instead of the current 20 - so long as continuous loading and unloading is taking place. London Councils' proposal goes on to say that if loading is clearly still going on for longer than 40 minutes then PCNs should not be issued. However, this needs to be balanced with the dispensation schemes that are available for longer planned deliveries. London Councils is also recommending that the new rules should apply during the operating time of the yellow lines instead of using 11 o'clock as the start time for loading limits. Now it is for the boroughs to implement the changes - not surprisingly Westminster City Council is leading the way. It has announced a pilot scheme, hopefully starting in July, which will allow 40 minutes after 11 o'clock. However, this will be a strict 40-minute limit and will only apply to larger delivery vehicles that have longer delivery time needs. Gordon Telling, FTA's Head of Policy for London, South East & East of England said, 'PCNs issued for overstaying on a 20-minute kerb space are one of the most frustrating problems for conscientious operators who instead have to split jobs up and make multiple visits to sites, generating additional traffic in the process. This represents a major step forward for delivery companies in London which are doing their best to operate legally. It will allow parking attendants to focus on those operators who deliberately flout the rules at the kerbside. 'The next step in our campaign will be to improve the availability of loading bays at difficult to access locations and to reduce the number of PCNs being issued and then cancelled as soon as they are challenged. 'We acknowledge the pressure that London is under to accommodate more people, businesses and buses over the next decade and are actively working with partners on a range of measures to improve traffic management and improve London's environment. That process is now bearing fruit and we look forward to further engagement with partners in the future.'

OBE for FTA'S Richard Turner 18 June 2007

Richard Turner, Chief Executive of the Freight Transport Association, has been awarded an OBE for services to transport in the Queen's Birthday Honours List for 2007. Mr Turner, who joined FTA in 1973, has been Chief Executive since 2001 and will retire from the Association on 30 June. He is a Chartered Civil Engineer and joined FTA after work for Hertfordshire County Council and Leeds City Council. He was born in London and is a resident of Horam, East Sussex. He is married with three grown-up children. FTA President Andy Haines said, 'This is a richly deserved recognition of Richard's talents and commitment to the transport industry over so many years. On behalf of FTA staff, officers and members I am delighted to offer Richard our warmest congratulations.'

Double-shifted euro 5 Volvo FH-520’S put SCS logistics ahead of the game 18 June 2007

Five new Volvo FH-520’s with Euro 5 compliant engines have gone into service with SCS Logistics, the Essex-based supply chain solutions provider. Meeting its own environmental targets and those of its blue chip customers, including Proctor and Gamble, was key to the choice of the Globetrotter XL-cabbed, 6x2 tractor units, whose specification includes leather upholstered seats, climate-control, CD player and I-Shift automated transmission. Says SCS Managing Director Glyn Hockey. “We consulted with our drivers and felt that the extra cost of the high-spec interior would be justified to prevent fatigue. We do very little in terms of overnight stops as the vehicles are double-shifted, working both day and night. The drivers are delighted with the trucks, especially the I-Shift automated transmission.” Glyn Hockey is also very pleased with the support offered by the supplying Volvo Dealer, MC Truck and Bus who are maintaining the trucks at their Thurrock depot. Says Glyn. “The service and support we have received from them has been second-to-none.” “The main reason for the choice of Euro 5 engines was an attempt on our part to jump ahead of the game in terms of our environmental commitment. We are a main contractor to Procter & Gamble and join with them in attempting to make our operation as green as we can.” Where other operators have been disappointed that tax incentives for the early adoption of Euro 5, prior to October 2007, have not been forthcoming, this did not figure in SCS’s calculations. “We are not naïve enough to expect any kind of tax break which, perhaps cynically, we feel would be taken back in other ways,” says Glyn. The D13 engine’s 520 power rating and high cab specification were needed because of the trucks’ working patterns says Glyn. “These vehicles were purchased to undertake a different profile of work to that which we would normally carry out,” he explains. “They were chosen for long distance and the engines need to be both fuel-efficient and robust to work at maximum gross weight on long hauls. The Volvo’s met the criteria in every sense.”