As “crash for cash” scams continue to rise, so do the sales of dash cams – are they now an essential for drivers on today’s roads?
The practical driving test is due for some major changes in December; if you’re due to sit your test after 4-12-17, you’ll have to make sure you’re ready!
By all accounts, we’re fast moving into the future with the advent of 2 further sections of “smart motorway” being opened around Greater Manchester this year.
Stretches of both the M60 and M62 are currently undergoing works (said to cost around £208m), with the works on the M62 between Jcts’ 18-20 estimated to be complete in September. This will finally do away with the current 50MPH restriction that has been in place for the last 3 years, much to commuters’ relief. The works on the M60 from Jct 8-18 will then complete in early 2018, which will again ease congestion and frustration all round as the new technology takes the helm, although the speed cameras currently in place will continue to monitor the fluctuating speed limits set by the gantry signs.
What are Smart Motorways?
Smart motorways (also referred to as “managed” or “controlled” motorways, depending on whether a dynamic hard shoulder is available) use what they call Active Traffic Management (ATM) techniques to control the flow of traffic and aim to reduce both accidents and congestion by keeping a smoother flow using variable speed limits. These are shown on gantries above the lanes, per lane, and are set by the flow of the traffic in front – so if there are issues in front, the speed limits will reflect this and work in conjunction with warning gantries of queues ahead etc to try to keep flow constant, but in a calm and controlled fashion.
Smart motorway variable limits are monitored by speed cameras and those driving over the speed limit will be fined accordingly.
Speeding tickets
Of course, with variable speed limits comes the risk of speeding; whether accidental or on purpose, almost a million motorists on Britain’s roads are caught each year, and this figure will only increase as more speed cameras are installed on Smart motorways. The new speeding laws that came into force April 2017 could see motorists being fined over £2000 if they caught by speed cameras, as well as disqualification “in excess of 56 days”. In other words – respect the speed limit!
Do Smart Motorways really work?
Smart Motorways have been proven to keep traffic flow at an even pace and improve journey times – but they do come with their own host of problems for motorists should anything go wrong.
Some smart motorways use the hard shoulder as a live lane at peak times, so there is nowhere to pull over if you have a break down, or worse, if there is a fire or similar. This means a higher chance of an accident, but also more congestion as road users have nowhere to try and pass blocked lanes. The Met have been quoted as saying that the decision to drop the hard shoulder has resulted in “significant risks” to motorists, so it is definitely something to bear in mind should your journey take you onto a Smart motorway.
Current works
The M60 and M62 aren’t the only motorways undergoing Smart upgrades; sections of the M1, M3, M5, M6 and M90 are also currently undergoing construction. Large parts of the M1 are already live as Smart motorways, and there are over 236 miles of Smart motorway overall in England alone.
Have you travelled on a Smart motorway lately? Did you feel your journey was better as a result? Let us know in the comments!
Brexit is somewhat under-way, so it is time again to consider what impacts it could have on us in the Logistics industry – here are 5 key points to considers as Brexit negotiations move forward!
Trade
The subject of trade is the centrepiece of the Brexit discussions and the foreseeable impact of leaving the EU affecting the balance of the UK’s payments.
The government have stated that 44% of all UK exports are sent to EU countries. The danger is that leaving the EU may put that figure at risk, significantly denting Great Britain’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Logistically, the consequences could be dire. Reduced trade with Europe could mean less demand for road haulage and crowd the industry with competition.
However – we don’t want to be too depressing. Supply chain expert Professor Alan Braithwaite (who is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT)) has suggested that “any changes are unlikely to happen immediately” and stated that “Established patterns of trade are difficult to change quickly because of capacity, and all the time trade flows, we will need logistics.”
Border Controls
Irregardless of what happens with trade levels, the logistics industry is anticipating stricter border controls due to Brexit.
This could be as simple as a new set of paperwork, or it could be more invasive. Either way, it’s something to consider, especially if migrant fines are to be reviewed.
Driver Shortage
With tighter control of immigration, we can anticipate a lack of EU migrants gaining employment in the logistics sector – as it stands, EU drivers are relied heavily upon within the industry.
With less ability to recruit, the industry’s ability to serve the economy could be crippled. This could be rectified through investment in UK trained drivers, such as the Trailblazer apprentice scheme.
Legal Implications
Another impossible aspect of Brexit to predict.
As terms are to be confirmed, the best way to be prepared to any changes in law is to abide to the current standards. By doing so you can safeguard your business and ensure compliance at all times.
Cost Implications
Cost implications are expected for all. However, there may be some additional costs anticipated for the logistics industry, such as trade tariffs within the EU, which may increase the bottom line for exporters.
Furthermore, if freedom of movement is reduced, this could impair work efficiency by preventing free movement around the continent. This could mean longer routes or more toll payments. Fuel is also likely to become more expensive, as the weakened pound will affect the UK’s trading of oil and likely result in raised fuel duty imposed by the UK government.
This week Ford rolled out the 2014 Transit Courier, the fourth addition to its Transit range. Ford says its the first time for the nameplate in the compact van segment.
When the Courier goes on sale in the Spring of 2014, it will offer more than 1,400 pounds of payload capacity, multiple mounting points for racks or other framework and a rear cargo area that can carry items 5.3 feet-long. An optional folding passenger seat boosts the cargo length to 8.5 feet.
“With 10 percent more load volume and floor area than its closest competitors, the all-new Transit Courier brings a new level of productivity to the compact van segment,” Samardzich said in the press release.
Three engines will be available in the Courier with start-stop optional with all of them. First there is the choice between the two Duratorq TDCi diesel choices: a 1.5-liter, 74-horsepower and a 1.6-liter, 93-horsepower. A step up from that would be the 1.0-liter EcoBoost gasoline engine with 98 horses.
Pricing on the 2014 Transit Courier hasn’t been announced yet and Mike Levine, Ford’s truck communications manager, tells us, “There are no plans to bring Transit Courier to the US.”
Since its launch in 2000, the Commercial Vehicle Show has emerged as the most productive sourcing and selling opportunity for the entire UK road freight transport and logistics industry. For operators, it is undeniably the chosen meeting place attracting over 16,000 high quality visitors with real buying power.
As an exhibitor, the CV Show is the obvious event choice to help you win orders in a competitive market. Above all, the Show provides the truly unique benefit of genuine face-to-face encounters with decision makers who have purposely left their business to call on you!
VARIED and VIBRANT
Without question, the CV Show is the largest and most comprehensive road freight transport event staged in Britain, catering for every operator’s requirements from truck, van and trailer manufacturers through to handling equipment, insurers, tyre, telemetry and training providers, fuels and lubricant suppliers – and a whole lot more. To ensure the industry’s wheels keep turning at maximum efficiency, the Workshop area features 100+ stands showcasing everything from OE components and replacement parts to maintenance management systems, garage and workshop equipment.
HIGH QUALITY AUDIENCE
Research from the 2012 CV Show confirms that three out of four visitors is a fleet owner, director, senior manager or engineer and most have sole or joint purchasing responsibility within their company. Incredibly, over 50% of visitors attend no other industry exhibition, making the CV Show undeniably the number 1 face-to-face sales opportunity for industry suppliers.
ON-SITE TO SELECT & BUY
At the CV Show, existing and potential customers are there to see you, a certain buying signal which should not be ignored. They have made an informed choice to attend the Show and can be persuaded to visit your stand.
As proven in 2012, the CV Show boasts a very high ‘contact-to-sale’ ratio and frequently provides exhibitors with more leads in just three days than a sales team can uncover in a full year. That’s why hundreds of exhibitors keep coming back, time after time.
Non-professional couriers, using their own cars and spare time, are becoming a force to be reckoned with as the internet reshapes the UK’s logistics industry.
Almost a billion parcels are estimated to have been delivered in the UK in 2012 by an expanding logistics workforce of around 1.8 million people, supporting a domestic parcel industry worth around £4.4bn.
Self-employed drivers now make up anything between 5-8% of UK logistics workers, with one of the most rapid expansions in the group known in the industry as ‘lifestyle couriers’.
These are individuals who, out of choice or necessity, spend varying amounts of time each week delivering parcels, usually around their neighbourhoods. It has been happening for decades, but the scale has changed.
Now, if you order home deliveries from a wide range of well-known online, catalogue and high street retailers it is likely some of your goods will have spent some time in the boot of a lifestyle courier’s car.
The rise of lifestyle couriers has not been embraced by some full-time self-employed delivery drivers, who typically charge more to cover higher overheads, including specialist vehicles and insurance.
Home Internet Shopping Growth
Business-to-business is still dominant in the market but e-commerce will push the business-to-consumer side to match it in the next few years.
Now, most of the big parcel industry players also use lifestyle couriers to help them cope.
Them and Us
Peter Turner, spokesman for the Self Employed Owner Drivers Association UK, describes lifestyle couriers as “a pain in the neck!”
The fledgling profession is also criticised by some of those who claim to practise it.
Low wages are a frequent source of complaint on the internet forums that have sprung up dedicated to lifestyle couriers.
However, representatives of the industry, argues that remuneration is fair and competitive, with additional payments depending on the job as well as opportunities for drivers to negotiate their pay.
Level Playing Field
By contrast, postal regulator Ofcom admits lifestyle firms play by different rules.
“Packet and parcel operators are, and always have been, very lightly regulated, although they must have a process in place to handle complaints”, says a spokesman.
Ian Senior, an economist specialising in the postal industry, thinks the relative freedoms of the lifestyle market should be preserved, for now at least.
“Frankly, I think they have quite an uphill battle to prove their credibility but I don’t want to see the big heavy hand of regulation coming in yet again”, Mr Senior says.
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