VanUser August 2014

Vanuser

August 2014

THE MAGAZINE FOR LCV FLEET OPERATORS

Viva Vivaro!Keeping LCV

manufacturing alive in the UK

Van

3 VanUser December/January 2013/14

Vanuser

VanUser is published 11 months a year and is available FREE to large and small vehicle operators, fleet buyers and operators plus vehicle specifiers etc who have the responsibility for five or more light commercial vehicles. If you do not fall into the above categories, but would like to receive the magazine, it is available on subscription for £22.50 per annum (inc P & P) UK only. To subscribe, send your contact details, together with a cheque made payable to Countrywide Publications, to The Subscription Manager, VanUser, Fountain Way, Reydon IP18 6DH or email [email protected]© Countrywide Publications 2014

All of the new vans launched this year have much in common and safety is a recurring theme. ABS, EPS, hill start assist, blind spot assist... the list gets longer and longer. In the cargo area, more options are being offered for load security, while the comfort and protection of driver

and passengers are increasingly improved.

But all these commendable measures count for nothing without drivers and operators adhering to commonsense procedures to make sure vehicles and loads are safe.

We have all heard the chilling stories. Just recently I heard about the damage that followed the unsecured pallet of concrete tiles falling off the back of a roofing contractor’s drop sider and another of a van that had a blow out on a busy stretch of road while overloaded to the point that the vehicle was too low to get a jack underneath.

These are clearly not isolated incidents. Three-quarters of all vans stopped by VOSA last year were found to be overloaded.

At VanUser recently, we were able to witness two live crash tests, the first involving a poorly loaded van – an all-too-typical ‘builder’s van’ – and one fitted with crash-tested racks. The results were a shocking reminder of the price that you can pay for a poorly-loaded van. You can read about them on p24.

Simon Tooth, Editor

DIARY4 New Vito set to strengthen Mercedes sales Isuzu extends D-Max range Daily conversion set to help Cheshire’s homeless Licence checking service to be free of charge NV200 gets top billing

LOAD HANDLING

13 Sharp new look as Relay arrives in UK. After its successful launch at the CV Show, Dan Gilkes drives Citroen’s latest offering

INSIDE

LAUNCH

EditorSimon Tooth T 01502 725838 • M 07771 926643E [email protected]

Technical editorDan Gilkes T 01842 898473 • M 07802 751473 E [email protected]

Advertising managerChloe Stockdale T 01502 725800 E [email protected]

Advertising executiveMiguel Candeias T 01502 725800 E [email protected]

Design and productionMark Shreeve T 01502 725839 E [email protected]

Published by: Countrywide PublicationsFountain Way, Reydon, Suffolk IP18 6DH

Visit the Van User website at www.vanuser.co.uk

Vanuser

VanUser August 2014 3

9 UK-built gives new Vivaro unique place in the market, reports Simon Tooth

ROAD TEST

28 A VanUser promotion

LEGAL MATTERS6 Driving you out of business? Jonathon Backhouse asks whether driver + licence equates to competency

15 VW’s latest BlueMotion, based on the short wheelbase Caddy, boasts all the latest technology

ROAD TEST

19 Dan Gilkes gets behind the wheel of Vauxhall’s L2H2 version of its popular Combo van, launched earlier this year

ROAD TEST

SIX OF THE BEST22 VanUser has selected six of the best portable chargers on the market to ensure you’ve always got a ‘full tank’, wherever your travels take you

LOAD HANDLING24 Why load safety means road safety

4 VanUser August 2014

DIARY

Licence checking service to be free of chargeACFO says it has achieved a notable victory for its members with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) announcing that employers will be able to check the validity of employees’ driving licences via its soon-to-be-launched online service free of charge. The organisation for fleet decision-makers has been working with the DVLA in the development of its new Share My Driving Record (SMDR) web-based service.

NV200 gets top billingVehicle data provider MyCarCheck.com has tipped the Nissan NV200 as its star buy among used car size vans. LCV expert, David Hill, commented: “Overall, we think it delivers the best value in the B sector. It is built on a standalone van platform, rather than being based on a car. The Nissan NV-200 gives 4.2m3 load space for about the same money as a Partner or Berlingo with the same mileage, and you get two side sliding doors and a fantastic turning circle.”

A conversion of an Iveco Daily will provide overnight sleeping accommodation as well as washing and refreshment facilities for homeless people in Cheshire. O&H Vehicle Conversions partnering with Foundation Enterprises North West have been working together to build what is believed to be the first ‘outreach’ conversion. The converted vehicle provides full “snooze and recline” seats, internal fan for air circulation, LED internal lights, 13amp sockets, non-slip vinyl floor, wipe down lining, AVS electric side step and rear fixed step, wet room facility with hot and cold water plus an electric flush toilet.

Isuzu has added another model variant to its D-Max pick-up range. The extended cab version is now available in the premium Yukon trim, to provide a pick-up which is both adaptable and luxurious at the same time, says Isuzu. The extended cab configuration features standard front seats, behind which is a large load area incorporating a fold-down rear bench for occasional use.

Isuzu extends D-Max range

Daily conversion set to help Cheshire’s homeless

Mercedes-Benz is to launch a new Vito van line, offering the LCV with a choice of front, rear, or for those in left hand drive markets, all-wheel drive. The front drive models will be powered by a 1.6-litre diesel, while rear drive vans keep the proven 2.15-litre Merc engine. With a host of electronic safety systems, increased carrying capacities, extended service intervals and lower fuel consumption, Mercedes hopes to build on the sales performance of its popular mid-weight.Full story in the September issue of Van User.

New Vito set to strengthen Mercedes sales

• EC whole vehicle type approved bodies and optional modifications• Market leading payloads

• 3 year warranties• 24hr spare parts

• Automotive standard of finish

• EC whole vehicle type approved bodies and optional modifications• Market leading payloads

• 3 year warranties• 24hr spare parts

• Automotive standard of finish


LEGAL MATTERS

Driving you out of business?

W hen recruiting a new driver, the obvious starting point is to conduct a driver licence check. This will highlight if the candidate has any previous convictions such as speeding and confirm whether the prospective driver is eligible to drive and the category of licence that they hold. This sounds

obvious but is so frequently overlooked. Backhouse Jones frequently deals with cases on behalf of companies where a driver has been involved in an incident and after further investigation it becomes apparent that the driver did not hold a valid driver’s licence. This can happen if the company has not carried out appropriate licence checks or, as is sometimes the case, the driver has been issued with a conviction in their own personal time and chosen not to disclose the offence to their employers.

The most effective way to avoid this is to set up a quarterly drivers licence check system and to state in a driver’s contract of employment that they must disclose any motoring convictions and health concerns that occur throughout the term of their employment.

However is this enough and can you manage your risk more efficiently? Freak accidents can happen to anyone but it is advisable to get to know the personality of your drivers. Know those who have a tendency to speed and drive erratically and monitor their performance. Take an interest in the lifestyle of your drivers; those who perhaps like to party at the weekend and binge drink as these drivers could pose a significant risk for your business on a Monday morning if they are still over the limit. Do you have any policies in place to police this?

Personal issues involving the driver can also have an adverse effect on driving manner such as those going through relationship difficulties (separation, divorce), or family illness. Again, it is your role as the owner of the business to monitor these individuals and manage your compliance risk, particularly if a significant proportion of their working time involves driving.

Drivers have a critical part to play in ensuring the vehicle they drive on your behalf is roadworthy. But do you consider them to have this role and more importantly,

does your driver consider this to be their role? Your drivers should carry out a daily walk round inspection of their van and they have a continuing obligation to report on defects and highlight any safety issues. Failure of your drivers to carry out suitable due diligence when

driving their van on a daily basis can have serious repercussions such as death, serious injury and with this, serious offences such as manslaughter, causing death by dangerous driving, death by careless driving (all of which carry a prison sentence) and Health and Safety at Work Act (which carries an unlimited fine).

Another point to consider is whether your drivers are healthy? How often do they have a routine eye test? Often it is only the driver who knows the real truth about their health but as the owner of a business, it is imperative that you listen to feedback from colleagues regarding other drivers. Alarm bells should ring if you hear comments such as “Billy can sleep on the side of a razor” as this may, or may not, signal a sleep disorder such as sleep apnoea.

So what can you do to manage your compliance risk and manage your drivers? Aside from setting up systems in order to periodically check driver licences and ensure that your contracts of employment state that disclosure is required if a driver receives a motoring conviction, it is important to offer suitable training to your drivers on a regular basis and appraisals for performance and health. When appointing new drivers you must carry out a comprehensive induction; travel with the driver, assess their driving skills and rectify where needed. Annual driver training and regular reviews should be conducted; drivers driving day in, day out, can easily fall into bad habits and these need to be highlighted and nipped in the bud. If all the training, auditing and testing fails – then be firm! You must manage, discipline and dismiss.

After reading all this, I then revert back to my original question - does driver + licence equate to competency to drive?

For any queries relating to the content of this article or all related van compliance matters, please contact Jonathon Backhouse, Director of Backhouse Jones on 08450 575 111 or email [email protected] a heritage stretching back to 1819 Backhouse Jones is a leading firm of solicitors which, since the introduction of the first transport act in 1930, has built an unrivalled reputation representing the road transport industry. Described by the 2013 Independent Chambers Guide as impressive national leaders with “a very high level of sector specific expertise”, Backhouse Jones provides an identifiably bespoke service completely tailored for the road transport industry.Offices: LONDON 22 Greencoat Place SW1P 1PR NORTH WEST The Printworks, Hey Road, Clitheroe BB7 9WD

Your driver is your front line operator; they deliver your service and advertise your company name. However does driver + licence equate to competency asks Jonathon Backhouse.

1. £2,000 (exc VAT) off offer applies to all L200 variants. 2. Super Select 4WD is only available on the Trojan, Warrior, Barbarian and Walkinshaw variants. M-ASTC (Mitsubishi Active Stability and Traction Control) is only available on the Warrior, Barbarian and Walkinshaw variants. 3. L200 Warrior rental shown is for a 15MY with manual transmission. The Contract Hire Finance Plan shown is applicable to VAT Registered Business users only and is subject to status via Mitsubishi Contract Motoring (part of the official Mitsubishi Motors distribution in the UK), Watermoor, Cirencester, Glos. GL7 1LF. The rental is based on an advance payment equal to 12 rentals, followed by 35 monthly in arrears, subject to VAT at 20% and based on an annual mileage of 10,000 miles and is non-maintained. Excess mileage will be charged for and indemnities may be required. The offer rental is valid between 1st July and 30th September 2014 and is subject to change without notice, other terms and mileages are available upon request, available at participating dealers in the UK (excludes Channel Islands & I.O.M). Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. 4. ‘Great Finance Options’ relates to credit finance through Finance Mitsubishi 116 Cockfosters Rd, Barnet, EN4 0DY and is subject to status available to all customers aged 18 and over. Indemnities may be required. Finance Mitsubishi is part of Lloyds Bank Asset Finance. Finance offers are only applicable in the UK (excludes Northern Ireland, Channel Islands & I.O.M) are subject to availability and may be amended or withdrawn at any time. 5. 5 year/125,000 mile warranty (whichever comes first) is applicable to new Mitsubishi L200 retail and small business sales and selected Contract Hire agreements. 5 year/125,000 mile warranty excludes NI & Channel Islands, Terms and Conditions apply. Please see www.mitsubishi-cars.co.uk for more details. 6. Offer price shown excludes VAT, VED and First Registration Fee and is for an L200 Single Cab 2.5 DI-D 4Work. Metallic paint extra.

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THE MITSUBISHI L200. THE ULTIMATE WORKMATE.

The Mitsubishi L200 is a masterful pick-up like no other. Its rugged workmanship and revolutionary Super Select 4WD2 system ensures total control come rain or shine on any terrain. Now to help celebrate 40 years of Mitsubishi Motors in the UK it’s available with £2,000 off across the range1. So whilst the L200 comes with all the attributes that you would expect from a master of its trade, it comes with an apprentice’s price tag. We call this Intelligent Motion.

M35162 Q3 (Q2 FY) 2014 L200 Mountain Tactical Van User National Ad MAG 297x210 image update.indd 1 30/07/2014 17:12

1. £2,000 (exc VAT) off offer applies to all L200 variants. 2. Super Select 4WD is only available on the Trojan, Warrior, Barbarian and Walkinshaw variants. M-ASTC (Mitsubishi Active Stability and Traction Control) is only available on the Warrior, Barbarian and Walkinshaw variants. 3. L200 Warrior rental shown is for a 15MY with manual transmission. The Contract Hire Finance Plan shown is applicable to VAT Registered Business users only and is subject to status via Mitsubishi Contract Motoring (part of the official Mitsubishi Motors distribution in the UK), Watermoor, Cirencester, Glos. GL7 1LF. The rental is based on an advance payment equal to 12 rentals, followed by 35 monthly in arrears, subject to VAT at 20% and based on an annual mileage of 10,000 miles and is non-maintained. Excess mileage will be charged for and indemnities may be required. The offer rental is valid between 1st July and 30th September 2014 and is subject to change without notice, other terms and mileages are available upon request, available at participating dealers in the UK (excludes Channel Islands & I.O.M). Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. 4. ‘Great Finance Options’ relates to credit finance through Finance Mitsubishi 116 Cockfosters Rd, Barnet, EN4 0DY and is subject to status available to all customers aged 18 and over. Indemnities may be required. Finance Mitsubishi is part of Lloyds Bank Asset Finance. Finance offers are only applicable in the UK (excludes Northern Ireland, Channel Islands & I.O.M) are subject to availability and may be amended or withdrawn at any time. 5. 5 year/125,000 mile warranty (whichever comes first) is applicable to new Mitsubishi L200 retail and small business sales and selected Contract Hire agreements. 5 year/125,000 mile warranty excludes NI & Channel Islands, Terms and Conditions apply. Please see www.mitsubishi-cars.co.uk for more details. 6. Offer price shown excludes VAT, VED and First Registration Fee and is for an L200 Single Cab 2.5 DI-D 4Work. Metallic paint extra.

Put it through its paces | Visit mitsubishi-cars.co.uk to fi nd your nearest dealer.

MITSUBISHI L200 FROM £12,499+VAT6

GREAT FINANCEOPTIONS4

5 YEAR5

125,000 MILEWARRANTY

£1893

+VAT PER MONTHBUSINESS USERS ONLY

GET THE MASTER FOR THE PRICE OF THE APPRENTICE£2,000 OFF TH£2,000 OFF TH£2,000 OFF E L200 RANGE1

THE MITSUBISHI L200. THE ULTIMATE WORKMATE.

The Mitsubishi L200 is a masterful pick-up like no other. Its rugged workmanship and revolutionary Super Select 4WD2 system ensures total control come rain or shine on any terrain. Now to help celebrate 40 years of Mitsubishi Motors in the UK it’s available with £2,000 off across the range1. So whilst the L200 comes with all the attributes that you would expect from a master of its trade, it comes with an apprentice’s price tag. We call this Intelligent Motion.

M35162 Q3 (Q2 FY) 2014 L200 Mountain Tactical Van User National Ad MAG 297x210 image update.indd 1 30/07/2014 17:12

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LAUNCH

In the spring Renault and Vauxhall both revealed new versions of their mid-rang-ers, the Trafic and Vivaro respectively, the result of an on-going tripartite devel-

opment agreement. The third partner, Nissan, busy with the launch of its eNV200, has yet to announce what, if any, plans it has for the Pri-mastar, its version of the vehicle.

We reported on our first drive of the new Trafic in the last issue and now have had a chance to get close to the Vivaro. Of course, they have much in common and the differences are largely in the detail.

But Vauxhall believes that for the UK market at least it has a USP – Vivaro is built in the UK and uses 40 per cent UK-sourced components. Vauxhall’s decision to keep the Luton plant open means Vivaro is now the only UK-built van, something that the company hopes will be a deal-clincher for buyers who want to support UK manufacturing – or at least to be seen to be doing so.

For General Motors, it’s a vote of con-fidence for the Luton plant and the 1200-strong workforce. Vehicles have been built there since 1905 and close on 1m vans have rolled off the production line since it switched to LCV production in 1987. This year Luton was the first facility in Europe to achieve GM’s Built in Quality (BIQ) Lev-el 4 rating in recognition of its quality control standards, one of only three of GM’s 396 facil-ities worldwide to be awarded this accolade.

GM has invested £185m in the plant where output will be 44,000 vans a year on the current single shift. While there are no immediate plans to increase

LAUNCH

Buyers eyeing up the mid-range van market are spoilt for choice with many of the major manufacturers already offering or about to offer major upgrades. Vauxhall chose to launch its new Vivaro at the Luton plant – for a very good reason, reports Simon Tooth

UK-built gives new Vivaro unique place in the market

>>

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shifts, this could follow if GM is successful in its ambition of increasing its market share of the European van market. Its aim is to double its European sales by volume to 170,000 units a year by 2022.

Speaking at the UK launch of the new Vi-varo, Luton plant director Mark Wright praised the “very flexible workforce” adding that the ef-ficiency of the plant had doubled over the past decade.

The first Vivaro was launched in 2001 and some front end restyling and new powertrains followed in 2006. Apart from that little has changed until now, testament to the fact that the original Vivaro/Trafic was a trailblazer.

Many of its main competitors – Ford’s Tran-sit Custom, Mercedes Vito, VW Transporter and of course Renault Trafic – have been relaunched or will be imminently. While most models have seen some modest gains in loadspace dimen-sions and flexibility, the real breakthroughs have been in economy, cost of ownership and driver comfort. Vivaro is no exception.

Vivaro is using four variants of a new 1.6l common rail diesel engine – 90PS and 115PS versions with single turbo and 120PS and 140PS versions using “sequential BiTurbo technology” which employs two turbos to deliver power at low and higher rpms. The impressive 120, with stop/start as part of the ecoFLEX package that is available on all but the 115 engine, gets a combined cycle fuel consumption figure of 47.9mpg with 155g/km CO2 emissions.

These class-leading figures can be improved still further by the driver switching to EcoMode which, Vauxhall claims, will deliver a further 10

per cent saving in efficiency and emissions. But it will be resisted by many drivers as it takes a noticeable edge off power and torque as well switching on a driving style indicator – and ‘modifying’ the air conditioning and heating system.

The new Vivaro comes in panel van, combi, double cab and platform cab variants, with panel van, combi and crew van offered in two lengths and the panel van in two heights. All variants retain the wheelbases of the previous model although an 100mm improvement in loadspace has been achieved and the cab has been extended by 116mm. Increased cargo ca-

pacity for the panel van ranges between 5.2 and 8.6m3.

That extra length in the cab is just one of the improvements that helps make the Vivaro more car-like for the driver. As well as the six-way driver’s seat, the steering wheel is adjustable up and down as well as forward and backwards, while the redesigned bulkhead allows additional backrest adjustment. There’s plenty of storage space, including a 12l ‘glove’ compartment, big enough for an A4 clipboard and 1.5l bottle. Dig-ital radio, Bluetooth and USB connectivity are standard as is the wide-angle mirror mounted on the passenger sun visor.

New Vivaro also builds in cutting edge safety systems with electronic stability program (ESP) as standard. This latest ESP version includes traction control, roll over mitigation – impor-tant for vehicles with a high centre of gravity, hydraulic brake assist and adaptive load control, while the ABS system incorporates electronic brake force, which senses the load on each axle and the optimises the braking between front and rear wheels.

New Vivaro is offered in two trim levels, standard and Sportive, the latter offering extras such as LED daytime running lights, passenger bench seat, load-through bulkhead and park as-sist.

Prices start at a fiver short of £18K for the panel van, which is £450 less than the outgoing model. Add the fuel savings and the prospect of an enhanced residual value and Vivaro brand manager Steve Bryant’s promise of a “great whole-life cost proposition” looks not too wide of the mark.

LAUNCH

>>

With 40 per cent of new Vivaro components being sourced from UK manufacturers, Vauxhall emphasised some strong local supplier connections at the Luton launch. One such company is the family-owned MKP which makes 12 parts for the new Vivaro, including cross members and bulkhead panels. Awarded the GM Supplier Quality Excellence Award in 2012, the business has 200 employees and clients including Aston Martin, Bentley and Lotus.


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Gripper steps are offered as towing or non towing, all fitted with the high quality moulded safety tread pattern approved and preferred by many UK fleet operators.

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ROAD TEST

Sharp new look as Relay arrives in UKAfter its successful launch at the CV Show, Dan Gilkes gets behind the wheel of Citroen’s latest offering.

durability. Rear doors have been re-inforced and higher strength hinges are used to boost longevity. There are also stronger rails and runners on the sliding side door, plus sturdier locks to boost security.

Despite this focus on strength and durability, Relay retains its high payload capability, the vans offer-ing 1,140-1,995kg of load lugging ability across the range. The Relay 30 L1H1 Enterprise that we have here for instance, which along with the Relay 35 L3H2 is expected to be one of the big sellers in the UK, has a payload of 1,155kg, more than 200kg above some competitors at this size.

The 2.2HDi engine comes in three ratings – the 110hp and 250Nm of torque that we have here, 130hp and 320Nm or a range-

>>


Citroen stole a march on its van building partners Peugeot and Fiat at this year’s CV Show, by taking

the wraps off the new Relay first. However it has taken us a little long-er to get behind the wheel of that revised double chevron grille, as the three have battled to get the new vans to these shores.

But Relay is here now, and its recent nip and tuck update has certainly given the van a sharp new look, with those high-mounted headlights incorporating daytime running lights, the open honeycomb grille and the multi-piece bumper. That combination is not just about appearance either, as the high light position reduces the risk of damage and the multi-piece bumper makes it less expensive to repair if you do have a scrape.

As announced at the show, Re-lay benefits from increased body reinforcing to improve rigidity and

ROAD TEST


topping 150hp and 350Nm. Unlike Fiat and Peugeot, Citroen won’t be offering the 180hp 3.0-litre engine and all three motors put drive to the front wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox.

The 110hp engine pulls well enough in the 3 tonne GVW van, though with just over 100 miles on the clock when it arrived our test van was no-ticeably tight. Citroen claims fuel consumption of up to 41.5mpg should be possible, with CO2 levels pegged at 180g/km. No doubt here too a few more miles under the wheels will help things, as mid to high 30s were showing during our time with the van.

Climb up into the cab, and Relay does have a high driving position that provides a good view of the road ahead, and there are new details to take in. All Relay vans get Bluetooth now and a DAB radio with steering wheel mounted controls. Elec-tric windows and mirrors, those daytime running lights, a full steel bulkhead and most importantly ESC stability control are also standard equipment now.

Move up to the Enterprise trim level (for an ex-tra £800) and you also get air conditioning, rear parking sensors, cruise control with a speed lim-iter, a perimetric alarm, audio streaming through the Bluetooth connection, an MP3 compatible stereo and a 5” colour touch screen in the centre of the revised dash.

But here’s the odd thing. In the Peugeot Boxer and Fiat Ducato, that touchscreen plays host to a sat-nav system. However with Citroen supplying its UK vans with a Trafficmaster Smartnav to the right of the dash, Relay ends up with two touch-screen devices, the centre one used to control the stereo and little else.

Unless, as with our test van, you pay another £225 for a reversing camera system, which uses the screen as a monitor.

Talking of options, our van also came with me-tallic paint (£400), electric folding mirrors (£100), LED daytime running lights (£150), a front pas-senger airbag (£180), tyre pressure sensors (£90), wheel trims (£30), fog lights (£95) and a lane de-parture warning system (£300).

SPECIFICATIONCitroen Relay 30L1H1 110HDi EnterpriseBASIC PRICE £20,205ENGINE 4-cyl/2,198ccFUEL INJECTION common-railPOWER 110PS @ 3,500rpmTORQUE 250Nm @ 1,750rpm

WEIGHTS (kg)GVW 3,000 KERB WEIGHT 1,845PAYLOAD 1,155MAX TRAILER WEIGHT 2,000

DIMENSIONS (mm)LOAD SPACE LENGTH 2,670LOAD SPACE WIDTH 1,870LOAD SPACE HEIGHT 1,662WIDTH BETWEEN W/ARCHES 1,422LOAD HEIGHT (UNLADEN) 507LOAD VOLUME (m3) 8.0

Combined fuel consumption 41.5mpg Carbon dioxide emissions 180g/kmOil Change 30,000 miles/2 yrWARRANTY 3 yr/100,000 miles

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROLCitroen is making electronic stability control (ESC) standard on all Nemo, Berlingo and Dispatch vans. Following the launch of the New Relay, the entire Citroën LCV range now has ESC as standard. Nemo, Berlingo and Dispatch van will also benefit from further specification improvements, said Jeremy Smith, Citroën’s head of commercial vehicles and Business Sector operations.

He commented: “These latest changes to the Nemo, Berlingo and Dispatch, together with the recently launched New Relay, will further enhance the competitive positioning of our LCV range and will significantly benefit fleet and business customers here in the UK.”

ESC uses steering angle data and other information from the vehicle to detect if the vehicle is about to travel in a different direction to that indicated by the steering wheel position. ESC then automatically reduces engine power and brakes the appropriate wheel to help the driver maintain control.

Citroen has also announced price increases of £50 on Nemo and Berlingo (except on models where ESC was already standard) and £80 on Dispatch.

and unpleasant audible warning.Needless to say it was turned off every time

I started the engine and would not be an option box that I would be ticking.

Relay is a comfortable van to drive and par-ticularly in L1H1 form an easy LCV to thread through city traffic. It is equally at home on country roads and will happily cope with motor-ways too, though if you spend a lot of time at speed the 130hp engine might be a better bet.

If it was my money the Enterprise pack would definitely get the go ahead, air con and cruise making the van much more comfortable when covering the miles. No doubt the van would retain much of the premium come resale time too.

Talking of cost of ownership, with a list price just over £20,000 the van’s price hasn’t risen that much, given the additional equipment and specification on offer. You’ll need to visit the dealer every two years or 30,000 miles for regu-lar servicing, though many fleet customers might want to have brakes checked more regularly than that.

New Relay is very much an update rather than a totally new van, but the changes should provide plenty of ammunition for Citroen sales teams, with reduced running costs, increased specification and the promise of enhanced du-rability.

This system activates every time the engine is switched on, though it can then be turned off using a switch on the dash. It shows a graphic on either side of the dash and if you cross a white line without indicating, provides a violently noisy

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Caddy gets BlueMotion treatmentVW’s latest BlueMotion, based on the short wheelbase Caddy, boasts all the latest technology, reports Dan Gilkes

A couple of months ago we tried Ford’s latest Transit Connect in ECOnetic trim, coming away impressed with both its performance and its economy. Pos-

sibly the most direct competitor for that van is Volkswagen’s Caddy BlueMotion.

That’s not a Caddy with BlueMotion Tech-nology, including cruise control, Hill Hold Assist, regenerative braking and Start/Stop, but the full fat BlueMotion, which is a stand alone model based around the short wheelbase C20 van.

As well as the regular BMT components, the BlueMotion also features a lowered ride height, low rolling resistance tyres, more efficient engine control and improved aerodynamics. As with the Ford, VW has opted to base its most economical Caddy on the mid-range 102hp engine, rather than its lowest powered model. The motor pro-vides a strong 250Nm of torque and delivers a

ROAD TEST

>>


ROAD TEST

claimed 61.4mpg, 6mpg better than the standard Caddy 102hp with the BMT kit. CO2 drops from 134g/km to an equally impressive 119g/km.

Those figures make interesting reading for a fleet manager, until you realise that the Connect ECOnetic boasts 67.3mpg and 109g/km, though admittedly its 1.6-litre engine is pegged at a slightly lower 95hp and 230Nm.

As with the Ford though, there is no down-side to running the BlueMotion Caddy from the driver’s seat. Performance is strong and the van makes good use of all five forward gears, with no need to constantly change down on the mo-

THREE OF THE REST

VAUXHALL COMBOThe ecoFlex version of Vauxhall’s Combo van uses the firm’s 1.3CDTi diesel engine, complete with a Start/Stop system. The van delivers a claimed economy of up to 58.9mpg and CO2 emissions of 126g/km.

FORD TRANSIT CONNECT ECONETICThe recently updated Ford is once again at the top of the pack in this sector. It offers impressive fuel economy and emissions benefits yet remains a great drive, with low whole life costs.

MERCEDES BENz CITANMerc’s Citan compact van is available in BlueEfficiency trim, promising up to 65.7mpg. It comes with ECO start/stop, low rolling resistance tyres, plus alternator and battery management system,s to conserve fuel and reduce emissions.

torway. Indeed the Caddy makes a good cruising companion, though we would specify a full steel bulkhead, rather than the half mesh item in our test van, which allows too much road roar to come forward from the rear wheels.

The BlueMotion van is based on the Startline trim level, which gets you an MP3 compatible stereo with Aux-in, a height, reach and rake adjust-able driver’s seat, a sliding side load door and a full suite of electronic safety systems such as ESP, EBD, EDL electronic differential lock and MSR en-gine drag torque control.

Unsurprisingly our test van had been blessed

with a few options on top of that, including the somewhat 1970s Honey Orange paintjob (£375), Climatic air-con (£810), a leather-clad multi-func-tion steering wheel (£300), rear parking sensors (£240), electric windows and mirrors plus body coloured bumpers and mirror housings (£210) and front fog lights with a cornering function (£195).

Of course that BlueMotion package has no im-pact on the van’s load volume of 3.2m3. However, VW has decided to limit the weight of goods that you can carry in the Caddy. Whereas the 102hp van with BMT can handle 652kg in the back, VW has called time at just 544kg in the BlueMotion

>>


Based in Ilfracombe, Edd’s Greengrocers is a wholesale greengrocers and fruiterer that op-erates in the south west of England. It relies on its 20-vehicle fleet, which consists of a mix of Volkswagen Transporter and Crafter mod-els, to undertake its daily deliveries.

The company delivers to a variety of ca-tering businesses, including schools, nursing homes, restaurants and hotels. The nature of the business means that the company’s fleet has to carry a weighty cargo of perish-able items along some demanding roads. The tight and twisty lanes of Devon, Cornwall and Somerset can cause increased wear and tear on a van and test a vehicle’s reliability as well as fuel efficiency.

The fruit and vegetable supplier began using VW LCVs over 10 years ago and has re-mained loyal to the brand ever since. Owner Edward Manix commented: “As a small busi-ness we continue to monitor how we spend our money very carefully, so when sourcing new vehicles for our van fleet we always make sure we get the best deal possible. Volkswagen models have always maintained strong resid-ual values, which helps to keep our whole life costs down for each van, and definitely help us when we come to sell them on.

“We have a mix of vans on the fleet,

CASE STUDY

Wholesale greengrocers stay loyal to VW

mostly Volkswagen Crafters, which is a great van for us because of the size of loads we carry. What is really impressive is the performance of the vehicle considering its size. Our Transport-ers are also great for use on the small twisty lanes down in the south west. These vans are ideally sized to navigate the narrow roads, but are still able to offer a great payload to ensure we are able to transport our substantial loads. Both vehicles are great to drive and have con-tinued to offer excellent reliability over the years.”

Like many businesses in the UK, minimising downtime is imperative to Edd’s Greengrocers. The nature of the business means if a van is off the road the business is losing money. Ma-nix, added: “Reliability is vital for us, our fleet of Volkswagens has always performed well, in addition the aftersales service we receive from our Volkswagen Van Centre is always first class. In fact, part of the reason why we have stayed with the Volkswagen brand over the years is due to the excellent level of service we have al-ways received from our local dealer.”

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles offers replacement courtesy vans as part of its after-sales service promise, minimising downtime and ensuring businesses are back on the road with little inconvenience.

model, though that might be related to the low profile tyres more than the van itself.

There are a few vans in this sector of the mar-ket aiming for the ultimate economy, such as Vauxhall’s ecoFlex Combo and the BlueEfficiency version of the Mercedes Citan, Citroen’s Airdream Berlingo also posts some impressive figures.

The Caddy BlueMotion is a natural extension of the BlueMotion Technology philosophy and of course it won’t suit all operators. If ultimate fuel saving and low running costs are high on the agenda though, the Caddy makes a very strong case for itself.

SPECIFICATIONBASIC PRICE £15,195ENGINE 4-cyl/1,598ccFUEL INJECTION common-railPOWER 102PS @ 4,400rpmTORQUE 250Nm @ 1,500-2,500rpm

WEIGHTS (kg)GVW 2,049 KERB WEIGHT 1,505PAYLOAD 544MAX TRAILER WEIGHT 1,490

DIMENSIONS (mm)LOAD SPACE LENGTH 1,781LOAD SPACE WIDTH 1,552LOAD SPACE HEIGHT 1,244WIDTH BETWEEN W/ARCHES 1,172LOAD HEIGHT (UNLADEN) 576LOAD VOLUME 3.2


• Thatcham Accredited

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• 3 Year Warranty Available

• National Installation

• 100,000 Locks in Service

Tel: 01474 560077www.locks4vans.co.uk

Email: [email protected] C4 Imperial Business Estate West Mill, Gravesend, Kent DA11 0DL

ROAD TEST

If you think you’ve seen a van much like this in these pages before, you have, but with a different name. Vauxhall has been putting the Griffin badge on

Fiat’s Doblo Cargo for some time now and calling it Combo, but has been behind the Italian company when it comes to adding additional models.

That doesn’t seem to have harmed Combo sales however, with the compact Vauxhall now a familiar sight on UK roads. This is partly due to the choice available. Where competitors like Ford and VW offer simply a short or long wheelbase van at this size, Combo comes in L1H1, L1H2, L2H1 and now, with the introduction earlier this year, in L2H2 form.

The extra roof section still has a whiff of garden pond being carried on top of a stand-ard height van, but is in fact well integrated, with full height rear doors and a lockable com-partment over the cab roof.

The L2H2 Combo has a load volume of 5.0m3, which is almost on a par with vans from a class above. However with a payload of 1,000kg, it actually betters some of the smaller vans from the next class up, offering companies a real downsizing opportunity.

Despite its size and carrying ability, Vaux-hall has opted to offer the L2H2 with a choice of two 1.6-litre diesel engines, rather than the range-topping 2.0-litre. You can have a 1.6CDTi with 105hp with a manual gearbox, or a 1.6CDTi with 90hp and the Tecshift au-


Latest Combo fills the gap in van rangeDan Gilkes gets behind the wheel of Vauxhall’s L2H2 version of its popular Combo van, launched earlier this year.

>>

• Thatcham Accredited

• Sold Secure Gold Award

• ISO 9001 Quality Assured

• 3 Year Warranty Available

• National Installation

• 100,000 Locks in Service

Tel: 01474 560077www.locks4vans.co.uk

Email: [email protected] C4 Imperial Business Estate West Mill, Gravesend, Kent DA11 0DL

>>

Boston 4 post.indd 1 07/07/2014 09:35FACT.indd 1 28/07/2014 14:43

ROAD TEST

THREE OF THE REST

FIAT DOBLO CARGO XLThe same van in all but the badge, however Fiat will let you order what it calls the Doblo XL with the 2.0-litre engine as well as the two 1.6-litre motors if you prefer. The choice will no doubt come down to local dealer availability and price.

NISSAN NV200Nissan’s compact van only comes with one body size, but it offers 4.2m3 of load volume and a healthy 728kg of payload. With 110hp available from the 1.5-litre diesel engine it also comes close on the road.

FORD TRANSIT CONNECTThe recently revised Connect has lost its high roof option, going instead with two wheelbases for a maximum 3.6m3 of load volume. The compact Ford will match Combo on carrying capacity however, with the ability to take a 1 tonne load.

SPECIFICATIONVauxhall Combo L2H2 1.6CDTi Start/Stop

BASIC PRICE £17,648ENGINE 4-cyl/1,598ccFUEL INJECTION common-railPOWER 105PS @ 4,000rpmTORQUE 290Nm @ 1,500rpm

WEIGHTS (kg)GVW 2,460 KERB WEIGHT 1,460PAYLOAD 1,000MAX TRAILER WEIGHT 1,300

DIMENSIONS (mm)LOAD SPACE LENGTH 2,170LOAD SPACE WIDTH 1,714LOAD SPACE HEIGHT 1,550WIDTH BETWEEN W/ARCHES 1,230LOAD HEIGHT (UNLADEN) 545LOAD VOLUME 5.0


tomated manual box. Both engines have Start/Stop as standard and both deliver 290Nm of torque.

Most people will no doubt opt for the manu-al gearbox, which comes with six forward gears while the Tecshift makes do with five. This re-sults in a very relaxed motorway cruiser and that extra gear helps to keep fuel consump-tion down, with Vauxhall claiming that up to 49.5mpg should be possible. Certainly getting into the 40s is not difficult.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the L2H2 comes only in the more basic Combo trim level, you can’t opt for the popular Sportive specification on the larger van. Vauxhall had added a host of options to our test vehicle, including air con-ditioning (£590), rear parking sensors (£195), ESP (£375), a height adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar support (£65) and an uprated stereo with Bluetooth, USB and steering wheel mounted controls (£485), almost bringing it up to Sportive level.

The van was also supplied with metallic paint (£380) and a load compartment pack (£120), consisting of the overhead shelf, PVC load floor covering, a 12V socket in the load bay and a removable load area light.

The base trim isn’t that hard to live with however, all Combos come with remote con-trol deadlocking, a CD/radio, reach and rake adjustable seats and steering column, electric windows, a full steel bulkhead and two sliding side doors on the L2 models. The only options we would tick are air-con and Bluetooth.

Combo is a decent van to drive, with plenty of room for those over six foot to get comfort-able. The steering is light but you’re never left in doubt about what’s going on under the front wheels. As the roof above the driver is no higher

than in an H1 van, you really don’t notice the extra height from inside either. No doubt a full 1 tonne load would make its presence felt, but at half load the Combo is a rapid means of transport capable of holding its own in town or country driving.

As mentioned the real attraction of the L2H2 Combo will no doubt come for those customers thinking of moving down in size from a Vivaro or similar mid-weight van. This L2H2 Combo weighs in at £17,648, while the new Vivaro range starts at £17,995.

The L2H2 won’t be for everyone of course. What it does do though is provide Vauxhall with a seamless transition between van ranges, whatever your requirement, the dealer should be able to find a van that meets your needs.

>>

Boston 4 post.indd 1 07/07/2014 09:35FACT.indd 1 28/07/2014 14:43



SIX OF THE BEST

Staying in chargeKeeping all our portable devices charged up is a challenge. So VanUser has selected six of the best portable chargers on the market to ensure you’ve always got a ‘full tank’. Our choices have some unique functions – from an integrated ‘Lightning’ cable to solar power. There’s also an international plug adapter you can use wherever your travels take you.

MOpHIE pOWER RESERVE LIGHTNING£39.95 www.amazon.co.ukIf you want a tiny charger that’s still powerful enough to give your a iPhone a recharge, the neat Mophie – available in red, black or white – is perfect. Featuring an integrated Lightning cable and built-in USB connector, the 950mAh Mophie Power Reserve requires no additional cables for charging.

XSORIES SNEAKER pOWER BANK£55.99 www.xsories.co.ukA cool, silicone sneaker sole pattern hides a high power 4200mAh/3.4v internal battery, with a dual USB port to charge two devices simultaneously. It can also be topped up whenever you need to. The Sneaker Power Bank will guarantee you never run out of power on the go!

TWELVE SOUTH pLUGBUG WORLD£39.95 http://store.apple.com/ukThe clever PlugBug World attaches to, and converts, any MacBook Power Adapter into a dual charger that works in any major country. It gives you an extra USB charging slot plus 5 international plug adapters to keep both your laptop and other devices fully charged. It also doubles as a standalone, international USB wall charger.

BRAVEN BRV-BANK£119.99 www.amazon.co.ukThe BRV-BANK is the world’s first Bluetooth-enabled, USB controlled ultra-rugged power bank. This hugely powerful 6000mAh rugged power provider is built with an IPX5 water-resistant rubber exterior and is designed to charge wherever you travel. With the ability to withstand anything Mother Nature throws at it, the BRV-BANK™ is designed for emergency preparedness and the great outdoors.

SOULRA BOOST SOLAR£79.99 www.soulracorp.com/ukWhat better way to take advantage of the lovely sunshine we are currently having (and stay eco-friendly at the same time) than by trying out Soulra’s new Boost Solar, a solar-powered rechargeable battery pack to keep your smartphone, tablet and other devices topped up and ready to go, wherever you may be. Compact and lightweight, the Boost Solar provides long-lasting reliable power. Its rugged, rubberised exterior will protect it from everyday bumps and knocks, while the splash-proof material will keep it safe.

SOULRA BOOST TURBINE 4000£69.99 www.soulracorp.com/ukAn emergency battery charger all powered by hand turbine – so you control how much power you put in. Just one minute of ‘hand cranking’ provides four minutes of power. The Boost Turbine also features a rechargeable 4000mAh internal battery. Made from lightweight yet durable aluminium, it’s tough enough to take virtually anywhere with you but won’t weight you down. Small enough to stash in your pocket, you can take it anywhere for a big-time boost.

TRADE UP

Get a quote today:CALL: 0333 200 1150 VISIT: LEASINGREVOLUTION.COM

*Terms and Conditions apply: The above Business Contract Hire agreement is based on an initial payment equal to six monthly rentals followed by 47 equal monthly rentals. If the vehicle exceeds 10,000 miles per year an excess mileage charge will apply at the rate of 8.8 ppm. All prices exclude maintenance, exclude VAT and are

correct at date of publication (14/07/2014). This offer is subject to availability and may not be available to customers with end user agreements in place with the manufacturer. The vehicle should be returned to us in a condition that meets the BVRLA ‘Fair wear and tear’ guidelines, otherwise charges may be incurred.

Subject to status. Lex Autolease Ltd. Registered in England & Wales No. 1090741. Registered Offi ce: 25 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7HN

TRADE UP

Get a quote today:CALL: 0333 200 1150 VISIT: LEASINGREVOLUTION.COM

*Terms and Conditions apply: The above Business Contract Hire agreement is based on an initial payment equal to six monthly rentals followed by 47 equal monthly

VAUXHALL VIVAROSWB 1.6CDTI DIESEL (115PS) SPORTIVE 2.7T

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LA VanUser_FullPage_A4.indd 1 01/08/2014 11:48


LOAD HANDLING

Here’s a little test for you. Go out into the yard when all your vans are parked there loaded up and take a close look at how those loads are secured.

Chances are they aren’t secured at all – and if they are they are probably tied up with a bit of twine. Now look at any racking that your vans have. Was it provided by a reputable company or did the driver knock it up out of old bits of metal and wood?

Next take a peek into the cabs of these vans. Is everything tucked away out of harm’s reach or are there sandwich tins, tools and other detritus strewn all over the place?

If the result of this test is that your vans are all neat and shipshape, then you may as well stop reading now and sit there at your desk with a smug expression on your face. We bet that didn’t happen though!

If your vans are like most others, then it’s a sub-ject you really need to address before major prob-lems start landing on your desk.

Cargo wobbling about in the back of a van or truck is fine as long as that vehicle is proceeding up the road in an orderly manner.

In the even of an accident though, several things will happen. Firstly, the load will fly forward with an

Why load safety means road safetyLoading vans is easy – loading them safely is not such a simple matter. And sadly many of the three million light commercial vehicles on the UK’s roads are driving with cargo that could cause death and destruction.

Most drivers who chuck items in the back of their vans and trucks have no idea of the harm they could cause in the event of an accident, so fleet managers should make it part of their jobs to address this often neglected area.

incredibly destructive force. Two tonnes of cargo in the back suddenly become 200 tonnes as the forces of nature inevitably take their course.

The cargo, whatever it is, will be ruined of course but that’s only a start. If you don’t have a proper bulkhead fitted, that cargo will fly forwards into the backs of the driver and any passengers. As they are being restrained by a seatbelt (hopefully!) they’ll be impaled between the proverbial rock and hard place – and death or serious injury will ensue. Even items like mobile phones and (curiously enough)

A stark reminder of the dangers of bad loading have been provided in a test which Van User attended at the TRL laboratory in Berkshire, where two vans were crashed at 30mph – one badly loaded and another with a set of crash-tested racks.

The first test involved a typical builder’s van that we see every day on the roads and don’t think twice about.

On board was a pallet of bricks, a genera-tor, some road cones and tools, along with some DIY racking that looked OK to start with. On the roof was a plastic tube carrier filled with copper piping and the whole load weighed 515kg, just about half the van’s of-ficial payload.

The vehicle was crashed at 30mph. The result was spectacular. The racking virtu-ally disintegrated. The bricks were almost all broken in half. The whole load piled it-self into the bulkhead, snapping it off and pushing it into the cab. The plastic tube

Crash test highlights load dangers

>>


Why load safety means road safety

Crash test 1 (before and after): as can be imagined, serious injury or death could have resulted from this accident in a badly loaded van.

Crash test 2: The Sortimo racks have hardly moved after the same impact with a well-loaded van.

carrier snapped off and its contents went flying forwards, with potentially fatal con-sequences.

Worse was to reveal itself when we watched a slow motion film of the crash. The load had pushed itself forward into the back of the driver’s seat. As the driver was being restrained from going forwards by the seatbelt, it is likely that he would have suffered major injury or even death.

In comparison, the second test seemed rather tame but was carried out to show how much safer things could be when loads are restrained properly. This van was fitted with a racking system provided by Sortimo.

The racking was filled with various sized packages and there were some odd items such as traffic cones strapped in with proper restraining leashes. As we examined the ve-hicle after the crash, it had hardly altered. The racking was slightly bent, but even the packets stayed put.

Crash test highlights load dangers


LOAD HANDLING

The FTA commissioned a study into loading by the Transport Research Laboratory. Mark Cartwright (pictured left), head of LCVs at the FTA, said: “With respect to kilometres travelled, LCVs have a reasonably good accident record. However, incidences do occur in which cargo directly causes or contributes to the injuries of LCV occupants in an accident.

Better management and specification of cargo restraints can help to mitigate the risks posed by cargo in an accident, but in order to apply appropriate remedial actions it is important to understand the full extent of the risks posed by the cargo.

“In an accident, inadequately restrained cargo has the potential to cause serious and fatal injuries. The principal risk concerns the possibility of the

Safe loading is an area where the Freight Transport Association is active and the group offers a myriad of advice to fleets which want to know more about the subject.

first aid kits can cause serious head injuries if they aren’t stashed away.

When this happens, you’ll be short of a van and maybe a driver and worker too.

If the cargo is loose in the back of a truck, things could be even worse. The truck’s occu-pants will probably be safe as most have steel headboards fitted as standard nowadays, but the load will go flying and may well hit any pas-sers-by. And in the event of a death in such an accident, the long arm of the law, in the form of the Corporate Manslaughter Act, may be reach-ing out in your direction.

In the eyes of the law, it is YOUR job as fleet manager to ensure that drivers are instructed in safety matters.

So what should you do to improve loading safety? The rules are pretty straightforward and obvious (see loading tips right) but in addition to implementing them, it is important to make sure that all drivers and assistants read them. You should include safe loading in your driver’s handbook if you have one – and get the drivers to sign a document to confirm that they have read and understood their responsibilities. That way, in the event of an accident, the employer should be pretty much in the clear.

Another loading headache – and one that is becoming a major problem – is that of stuffing too much cargo into too small a space – ie over-loading.

It is a known fact that some operators have downsized from vehicles of 7.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight to 3.5 tonnes gvw in order to avoid having an O-licence and tachographs. But 3.5-tonne vans have cargo areas of anything up to 25 cubic metres, so the temptation must be to cram them full of freight, thus breaking the law.

In fact a staggering 75 per cent of vans stopped by VOSA last year were found to be overloaded and given a prohibition order.

One way of avoiding accidental overloading is to fit a device such as Van Weigh, which moni-tors the weight of each axle and alerts the driver if one or both of them are over weight.

cargo striking the vehicle occupants, but in the situation where cargo is carried on the top or side of an LCV there is a possibility that the cargo could become detached and strike the occupants of other road vehicles or strike vulnerable road users such as pedestrians or cyclists.

“Further to the possibility of vehicle occupants being struck directly by the cargo that they are transporting, it is also possible in frontal accidents for the cargo to overload the seat backs, crushing the occupants sitting in the front of the vehicle. This can also push the occupants forward within the vehicle, increasing the likelihood of them striking hazardous structures in the occupant compartment area such as the dashboard or A-pillar.”

LOADING TIPS

1 Produce company guidelines and procedures on how to load and store

equipment and tools in vehicles for safe transit

2 Carry out regular checks to ensure that drivers are aware of and are

following company policies and procedures concerning loading and storing equipment

3 Ensure that vehicles are adequately specified to carry the intended load,

equipment or tools

4 Provide appropriate training for drivers so that they are aware of

the hazards in a crash and know how to load and store equipment

5 Provide appropriate systems for restraining loads, equipment and

tools

6 Fit vehicles with storage and racking systems that have been assessed for

crash-worthiness

7 Carry out risk assessments of the vehicle’s equipment and cargo,

vans and fleet operations in terms of their crash safety. Document the risks and counter-actions to mitigate the risks. Review and assess them on a regular basis

8 Allow time for checks to be carried out on tie-down points, lashing and

netting systems to ensure they are not damaged and worn

9 Be receptive to the concerns and advice of drivers on modifications to

vehicles and load security

10 Seek professional advice if you have any concerns or uncertainties over

the crash safety of your vehicles

FOR FLEET MANAGERS

FOR DRIVERS

1 Adhere to all company policies concerning the driving of vehicles,

working practices and the loading of vehicles

2 Do not overload storage systems or vehicles and follow company/supplier

guideline on this point

3 Do not place unsecured objects directly behind where occupants are

likely to sit

4 Place heavy objects as low as possible in the vehicle stowage area

5 Do not place unsecured objects directly in the occupant

compartment of the vehicle

6 Stow tools and equipment in racking systems if provided

7 Use appropriate tie-downs, lashing and netting to secure larger loads

and equipment in the rear of the vehicle

8 Check that tie-down points and lashing systems are not damaged or

worn and have them fixed or replaced if they are

9 Check load restraints and lashings shortly after beginning a journey

or after any heavy braking to ensure the motion of the vehicle and the settling of the load have not loosed it

10 If you have any concerns about modifications that have been made

to a vehicle, these should be raised with the fleet manager

>>


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Easy loading and movement of heavy goods and packages by vehicle is essential for the health and safety of drivers and operators. JNS Lift Ltd explain why they chose the Vapor Ricon Cargo Lift to help solve their client’s issues.

When vehicles are used for transporting large, cumbersome and heavy packages, it is es-sential to use a safe and reliable system for lift-ing, storing and unloading. This is where a cargo lift can pay dividends and why NHS Scotland has commissioned four Vapor Ricon Cargo Lifts to transport vital sundries around the Trust’s area of operation in Central Scotland.

“We were approached by NHS Scotland to source and fit a Cargo Lift appropriate for load-ing products such as wheelchairs and mobility aids that are to be delivered to patients across

the Glasgow and Clyde area,” said David McK-enna, director at JNS Lift ltd of Johnstone. “We have used Vapor Ricon products for many years finding that they are the most suitable product in the market for this type of application due to their versatility, quality of build, ease of fitting and the added benefit of being simple to oper-ate and user-friendly.”

The lift is ideally suited to light commercials and provides a cost-effective lifting solution which can be fitted to most vehicles of this type. It has been designed in conjunction with Health and Safety Executive guidelines and aims for managing manual handling and to overcome concerns of lifting excessive weight loads by in-dividuals.www.ricon.eu

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THE INTERIOR OR ROOF OF A VAN FROM THE REAR.

Tel: 01344 624855 www.hope-tecdev.comSpeedliner euro HC® is a tough, thick, urethane polymer coating, which is flexible and protects surfaces from day to day wear and tear, weathering, corrosion and abrasion, it also helps maintain re-sale values.

Speedliner euro HC® application creates a seamless, totally waterproof coating and is impervious to oil, fuels, and most cleaning chemicals and detergents.

oVer 90 nATionWide AppliCATion CenTreSCAll noW To Find Your loCAl independenT CenTre

Speedliner 60 x 45 Advert 2013.indd 1 20/11/2013 12:32

VAN LINERS LOCKS

• Thatcham Accredited • National installation• Vehicle Specific Locks• 60,000 lock in Service• ISO 9001Quality Assured

Tel: 01474 560077

www.locks4vans.co.ukEmail: [email protected]

Unit C4 Imperial Business Estate WestMill, Gravesend, Kent DA11 0DL

Slamlocks

Deadlocks

Electronic Bolt

Defender Plates

Ultimate Lock

Shutterlock

TO ADVERTISE IN THE

CONTACTS DIRECTORY

CALL MIGUEL 01502 725863

Award-Winning Vehicle Tracking

*Limited Offer.

0870 013 [email protected]

www.quartix.net

Van Fleet World

• FREE for first 3 months• Then £22.90/month• 12 month contract• FREE installation• On-site warranty• inc. Driving Style

Monitoring

“THE QUARTIX SYSTEM HAS HELPED REDUCE OUR FUEL USAGE AND IMPROVE OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE THROUGH INCREASED

PRODUCTIVITY AND BETTER RESPONSE TIMES TO REPAIRS.”

ROB THOMAS, HEAD OF PROPERTY SERVICES, VALLEYS TO COAST HOUSING LTD.

Documents

VanUser August 2014