NFDA Truck and Van Update

AUGUST2013

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/ ‘We represent, you benefit’
Dear Colleague,
The NFDA Truck and Van Newsletter contains information on the market plus other factors facing the sector.
If you have any queries or questions concerning any of the issues raised in this month’s update, please do not hesitate to contact us here at the NFDA on the contact details provided below.
I hope you enjoy this latest update.
Sue Robinson, Director NFDA Truck and Van
Tel: 0207 307 3599
Mob: 07774 107763
Email:
Twitter: @NFDASueRobinson
Steve Latham, Senior Operations Manager Truck and Van
Email:

IN THIS ISSUE:

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  • COMMERCIAL VEHICLE MARKET REMAINS STABLE
  • VOSA SITE CLOSURES FOLLOW INCREASE IN AFTs
  • AFTS APPROVED – JULY 2013
  • VEHICLE SAFETY RECALLS
  • HIGHER FIXED PENALTIES IN AUGUST
  • NORTHERN IRELAND PLANNED DVLA ELECTRONIC TAXATION SERVICES
  • HOW SAFE ARE HGVs ON MOTORWAYS
  • MERCEDES-BENZ VITO TAXI – KEEPING CABBIES IN THE BLACK
  • FORD UK ENGINEERING AND MANUFACTURING SUPPORTS PRODUCTION LAUNCH OF TRANSIT CUSTOM
  • ATTENTION VAN & TRUCK DEALER MEMBERS!

COMMERCIAL VEHICLE MARKET REMAINS STABLE

“It is positive to see that the commercial vehicle market remained stable during July, with a healthy increase in the truck sector of 10.3%” said Sue Robinson, Director of the National Franchised Dealers Association which represents commercial vehicle and franchised car retailers across the UK, commenting on the SMMT’s van and truck registration figures.
New light commercial vehicle figures released today show overall sales were down 0.6% in July but up 6.5% year-to-date. Van sales dipped 2.6% last month but remained 9.3% ahead year-to-date.
Robinson continued, “Both the car derived van and large van sectors lost market share in July whilst the midsize panel van sector increased their sales volume. The fall in van sales could be attributed to the high volume of pre registrations that took place prior to the introduction of type approval regulations a few months ago.
“Despite the fall in sales in July the year-to-date figures shows that the van market remains buoyant. The NFDA believe that the van market will finish the year 10% above 2012.
“The Euro 5/6 change over continues to effect the truck market. Whilst the rigid truck sector slipped by 5.1% in July the heavy tractor sector recorded an increase in sales of a massive 40%.
“The recent increase in truck sales could be attributed to the growing confidence within the construction industry coupled with the signs of a stabilising economy.”
VOSA SITE CLOSURES FOLLOW INCREASE IN ATFs
VOSA's Testing Transformation project reached another milestone last month with the opening of the 350th Authorised Testing Facility at Morrison’s in Somerset and with 70% of tests already carried out at non-VOSA sites nationally, testing is to cease at Northampton, Wolverhampton, Southampton, Wrexham, Beverley, Cardiff, Kidderminster, Calne and Edinburgh HGV Testing Stations by the end of March 2014.
The decision has been approved by the Minister and there is sufficient ATF capacity locally to allow the sites to cease testing.
Staff based at the sites were informed of the decision first and the local management teams will agree when the final day of HGV and PSV testing will be.
The Driving Standards Agency shares seven of the sites and expects to remain on site delivering vocational driving tests for the foreseeable future.
AFTS APPROVED – JULY 2013
Find your nearest ATF on GOV.UK
ATF / Location / Email / Telephone
Sheppard Services / Marchwood, Southampton / n/a / 02380 660 035
Volvo / Chedgley, Bury St. Edmunds / / 01284 850 418
Gammonds Transport / Hereford / / 01432 274 907
Morrisons / Bridgwater / / 01278 558 848
Thomas of Rhondda / Porth / / 01443 681 995
VEHICLE SAFETY RECALLS
VOSA Vehicle recalls for July 2013 are listed below, two of them are for HGVs. For further information on any of these recalls visit the VOSA recalls database
VOSA reference number / Make and model / Issue
R/2013/080 / BMW – 1 and 3 Series / Loss of drive
RM/2013/016 / BMW M/C – F 700 GS and F 800 GS / Machine can be ridden with side stand extended
RM/2013/017 / BMW M/C – C 650 GT / Luggage carrier may detach
R/2013/069 / Mercedes-Benz – B-Class / Rear back rest may fail
R/2013/064 / Mercedes-Benz – M-Class / Floor mat may impede accelerator pedal
R/2013/066 / Mercedes-Benz – Actros, Antos 963 and Arocs 964 / Short circuit may occur
R/2013/070 / Toyota – Prius / Braking efficiency may be affected
R/2013/082 / Nissan – Pixo / Heater fan motor may overheat
R/2013/072 / Mitsubishi truck – Canter TF / Fuel may leak
RTW/2013/004 / Hercules tire – various / Belt and tread may separate
HIGHER FIXED PENALTIES IN AUGUST
The Department for Transport recently announced that fixed penalty levels will increase from 16 August 2013. The changes are being introduced following a public consultation which took place in 2012 including road safety groups and police services.
As well as affecting motoring offences, these changes will also increase graduated fixed penalties and financial deposits for vans, trucks and buses. Offences against roadworthiness, loading and drivers’ hour’s rules will result in higher penalties at the roadside.
  • a £30 fine will rise to £50
  • a £60 fine will rise to £100
  • a £120 fine will rise to £200
  • a £200 fine will rise to £300
VOSA Chief Executive Alastair Peoples said, “These new penalty levels are intended to ensure penalties reflect the seriousness of the offence and are consistent with those in other areas of offending. I know the majority of operators and drivers work within the law, but those that don’t need to know there are increased financial consequences and they should reconsider if it’s worth the risk.”
Increases will also be made to the maximum deposit that we can take at the roadside from offending overseas vehicles. Penalty points will not change.
NORTHERN IRELAND PLANNED DVLA ELECTRONIC TAXATION SERVICES
The DVLA plan to make the following changes by spring/summer 2014
  • Move more services online, re-licensing, change of ownership etc.
  • Improve and simplify cherisher/personalised number transfers.
  • Prioritise and modernise paper systems in line with those operated on the mainland.
  • Northern Irelands 150 Post offices will carry out more transaction including HGV, over the counter as in the mainland.
  • N.I. will retain its unique registration number plates.
  • Number plate retention will operate as on the mainland
  • Customers in N.I. will be able to purchase both NI & UK cherished numbers from DVLA.
  • Cherished registrations will be able to be assigned to new first registrations via the AFRL system.
  • Cherished transfers will be processed at Swansea by post via (V55/4 & V55/5)
  • Dealers will be encouraged to join the AFRL system to simplify first registration (currently there are 70% AFRL in NI and 93% on mainland).
  • Northern Ireland vehicles with registered keepers in NI will retain 4 year MOT and same Insurance processes as these are government devolved issues irrespective of its licensed on an NI or UK registration plate.
These changes that the DVLA who fund DVA (Driver & Vehicle Agency) as a service provider are planned to take effect from mid 2014 when all DVA offices are planned to close with the potential of the loss of 324 jobs at the Coleraine head office and 8 local offices.
HOW SAFE ARE HGVs ON MOTORWAYS
Below are the key findings from the analysis conducted by the Highways Agency, and all findings relate to HGV incidents on the motorway network. The statistics relate to 2010 as no newer figures are available.
  • 11% of all vehicle types travelling the motorway network are HGVs.
  • The peak days for HGV incidents are Wednesday and Thursdays between the hours of 07:00-08:00hrs, 12:00-13:00hrs and 15:00-16:00hrs.
  • 55% of all HGV incidents occur on the hard shoulder.
  • 67% of all HGV incidents are breakdowns
  • 13% of all HGV incidents are road traffic collisions.
  • Spillages/shed and insecure loads only account for 1% of all HGV incidents.
  • 75% of all HGV breakdowns occur on the hard shoulder and 5% of those require a lane 1 closure.
  • 13% of all HGV breakdowns are due to lack of fuel.
  • 87% of all HGV breakdowns are tyre related.
  • 46% of all HGV collisions (where a cause is known) are due to driver/rider error or reaction.
  • Out of the 11,927 HGV collisions, 66% (7,870 incidents) are non injury.
  • 5,009 people have been injured as a result of a collision involving a HGV:-
  • 82% of people injured had slight injuries.
  • 15% of people injured had serious injuries.
  • 2% (122 People) had been killed.
MERCEDES-BENZ VITO TAXI – KEEPING CABBIES IN THE BLACK
The Mercedes-Benz Vito Taxi is on course for a record year as it aims to build on its 40% share of the metropolitan taxi sector in the UK. Variants of the Vito Taxi have been sold in the UK since June 2008, establishing themselves as a dependable and popular choice for the taxi market
FORD UK ENGINEERING AND MANUFACTURING SUPPORTS PRODUCTION LAUNCH OF TRANSIT CUSTOM
Production of the all-new Ford Transit Custom and Tourneo Custom is now underway at the Kocaeli plant in Turkey. Engineering and development of Ford’s new global commercial vehicle range was the responsibility of the Ford Dunton Technical Centre in the UK and engines for the new models are supplied by Ford Dagenham.
ATTENTION VAN & TRUCK DEALER MEMBERS!
We are often asked why our newsletter is not distributed to more of your staff members, and therefore would like to request you to submit their email addresses to if they would like to keep up-to-date with all the latest news from NFDA.