Automotive and Van Blog
Bringing you the latest news and reviews on all things connected to van motoring.
Kwik-Fit Believe Growth is to Come Following Residual Value Service Stamp Decision
Monday January 30 2012
Exhaust and MOT firm Kwik-Fit believes it will be servicing more van and car fleets in the future, thanks to the decision from the National Association of Motor Auctions (NAMA) which confirmed a service book stamp was not required to maintain residual values for many vehicles used in fleets. Currently, a fair proportion...continue reading
Have you got what it takes to achieve Van Excellence?
Monday January 30 2012
The Freight Transport Association (FTA) has recruited GreenRoad to support and become a partner in the Van Excellence Scheme. The scheme has grown in popularity on the same scale as the UK's van sector which has risen considerably year on year. The Van Excellence Scheme has two aims, to reduce fuel consumption and...continue reading
Join the Van Excellence Scheme and Reduce Van Insurance Premiums and Fuel Costs
Monday January 30 2012
With van insurance premiums and fuel cost on the rise, it maybe time for you as an owner driver or fleet operator to cut the cost of both. The Van Excellence Scheme run and organised by the Freight Transport Association (FTA) is a code of practice for all van operators of all sizes. Established to provide guidelines...continue reading
English Motorways to Benefit from 3D Technology
Monday January 30 2012
The Department of Transport (DfT) has awarded police forces across England funding of £2.7m to install 3D scanning technology on the country's motorway network. The idea is that should a crash occur, the technology will scan the area providing crash investigators and police a 3D map of the crash site. This will...continue reading
Leading Used Van Auction House to Close Middlesbrough Site
Monday January 30 2012
Leading van auction house Manheim is to close its Middlesbrough auction centre following an assessment and restructuring of its business. The Middlesbrough auction house of Manheim has twenty employees and following a review it was discovered that this auction house only accounts for 1% of Manheim's business. The employees...continue reading
Will Fuel Embargos and Refineries Folding Impact Pump Price?
Thursday January 26 2012
It's a worrying time for fleet mangers and owner drivers given the fuel embargos placed on Iran and Petroplus filing for insolvency. Petroplus is Europe's largest independent oil refinery and owns Coryton refinery in the UK. On Monday the plant stopped producing fuel supplies. Petroplus failed to obtain an extension...continue reading
Sales of Michelin Winter Tyres Increase by 50% to the Delight of Van Insurance Companies
Thursday January 26 2012
Winter tyre sales are up by 50% report tyre manufacturer Michelin. Despite a relatively mild winter and unfavourable economic conditions, tyre sales in 2011 for the company reached 500,000 according to company estimates. This has surprised the company who thought they would see a decline in sales when compared to 2010...continue reading
Iveco Respond to Customer Demand
Thursday January 26 2012
In response to customer demand Iveco are planning to launch the 'DriveAway' scheme. Under the scheme, customer will be able to choose form a range of bodies for their Iveco 3.5 tonne chassis cab and crew cab commercial vehicles. The vehicles will be conversion ready and displayed on forecourts of participating dealerships...continue reading
Dynamo Deters Fuel Theft through Dyeing Diesel Fuel
Thursday January 26 2012
Dynamo a Derbyshire based scheme was established to combat the rising problem of fuel theft. The scheme involves dyeing diesel fuel which should it be stolen, can be tracked by police. The scheme is also enforced by placing deterrent stickers around the vans stating that the fuel in the vehicle is security tagged. ...continue reading
What the LEZ really costs you!
Thursday January 26 2012
If you drive around Greater London you will have seen and heard about the LEZ. Do you know how much it is really going to cost you? Below we explain about what the LEZ is trying to achieve, outline the costs to the taxpayer and UK businesses. Want to add this Infographic to Your Website? Simply copy the code below...continue reading
Diesel Prices to see Significant Price Increase
Thursday January 26 2012
Motor Industry Petrol (RMI Petrol) is an organisation which represents petrol retailers and forecourt operators. They have issued a warning that due to the wholesale price rise in the cost of fuel over the Christmas period, the cost of diesel could rise significantly. According to reports, recent fuel price increases...continue reading
Commercial Vehicle Profits to be hit by Mega-Trucks?
Thursday January 26 2012
Campaigners have risen concerned about allowing 'mega-trucks' on to UK roads. Though much of the concern is about taxpayer cost on road maintenance, the impact on congestion could cost industries that rely on commercial vans to, with missed deliveries eating into company profits. The European Commission has proposed...continue reading
Commercial Vehicle Leasing and Contract Hire Increases
Thursday January 26 2012
Many businesses are turning towards leasing and contract hiring their commercial vehicle fleets rather than owning commercial vans outright. The advantages are numerous and many industry experts feel that minimising business risks is the number one driver for the increase in demand for commercial vehicle leasing and contract...continue reading
Reasons for SMEs to feel positive about 2012
Wednesday January 25 2012
While the economy has proven unstable over the past few months and the outlook for UK businesses still appears bleak for the foreseeable future, there are many positives that people in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can take comfort from in the months ahead. From the adoption of new business strategies which...continue reading
Peugeot to Abandon the 208 Commercial Vans
Wednesday January 25 2012
French van manufacturers Peugeot have announced they will not be making a Peugeot 208 van. Currently the Peugeot 207 van is scheduled to end its run by April of this year, and this will be the last van version of the Peugeot 207 ever to be built. The car - van variants of Peugeot's range are now dominated by the Peugeot...continue reading
Points to consider before renting a van
Tuesday January 24 2012
Before people even get out their credit or debit card and rent a van, they should first take into consideration just what they want from their vehicle. Businesses will suffer a headache if they go through the stages of acquiring a van and have it delivered, before finding out that it just does not satisfy their needs...continue reading
FSG Fleet Management Company Sold to U.S Business
Monday January 23 2012
FSG, an independent fleet management company has been sold to a U.S based business. The sale which has gone through on the eve of the company's 25 th anniversary was described by its chairman Geoffrey Bray as an "exciting new era for the company, its staff and its customers. "Both FSG and ARI are privately-owned family...continue reading
Tips to acquire the best van renting deals
Friday January 20 2012
The days where buying a van was the only way for businesses to get from A to B are quickly fading away. Nowadays, people can make use of van renting in order to ensure they have the latest vehicle to meet their industry's demands without having to part with thousands of pounds of cash in one go. A problem that still...continue reading
Volkswagen Launch Special Edition Caddy
Thursday January 19 2012
Available until April 2012 the special edition of Volkswagen's Volkswagen Caddy entitled the VW Caddy Match, comes with extra features to the standard model. Bluetooth, trip computer, electrically heated and adjustable mirrors, cruise control, electric windows, and body coloured wing mirrors and bumpers together...continue reading
Nissan Electric Van Earns Preview
Thursday January 19 2012
Nissan have announced a new electric van modelled on the Nissan NV200 , entitled the Nissan e-NV200 is at a stage of "near future production" and is currently being previewed at the North American Motor Show in Detroit. The Nissan e-NV200 is thought to be an improved version of the electric Nissan van currently being...continue reading