by Juliet Parish • West Yorkshire-based haulier Sanmar Container Services collapsed last week, three months after four of its...

• The review of police duties, including those in traffic, that could be privatised, is cost driven and would lead to a new...

• Elan's liquidator has told over 700 staff at the firm they will not get any outstanding wages and must apply to the...

by Nicky Clarke • Shareholders of troubled leasing company Tiphook were told this week that even if they agree to the sale of...

• The Netherlands is calling for tougher vehicle emissions standards and a ban on dirty foreign vehicles in the country on the...

remains one of the major unresolved items in negotiations for Austria's EC membership. Austria wants the transit agreement to...

• The Labour Party is 'very hopeful" of gaining cross-party support to block a Government proposal to get rid of London lorry...

• A driver who broke his neck and shoulder three years ago in a road accident has issued a writ against his then-employer, RIC...

by Amanda Bradbury • A group of "wise men" appointed by The European Commission is understood to be looking at the introduction...

• Haulage associations are urg ing regular users of the Severn River crossing to continue shunning the bridge's electronic tag...

drivers 1.5% more • P&O Roadtanks says it will pay at least L5% more to its 600 UK drivers this year, but its 250...

• Owner-drivers could be offered financial advice and discounted diesel as incentives to join the Transport & General Workers...

by Juliet Parish • Acquisition-hungry Allen Munro Group has bought Tom Shanks Transport, adding £2.5m business to its £7m...

• Parcels and freight group United Carriers' 3 March flotation will raise Om of new money with which it will add depots, mainly...

• Independent used truck specialist Chris Hodge Commercial is hoping to set up long-term joint venture deals with large fleet...

• Receivers have begun selling the assets of RDB Freight Lines ahead of the first meeting of creditors since the company's...

• BOC Distribution Services posted unexciting but steady results for the last quarter of last year, in a move that secures its...

by Karen Miles • The transport of millions of litres of milk is about to go up for grabs as an expanding private milk marketing...

• Pig hauliers will be able to reduce around 30% of truck journeys they make without full loads, when their transport rules are...

by Brian Weatherley • Dutch specialist vehicle builders Terberg and Ginaf have targeted the British refuse vehicle market in...

• Volvo has developed low-height tractor versions of the FH12 offering chassis heights of 900 and 810mm suitable for hauling...

• After the collapse of merger talks between Volvo and Renault any remaining jointproduct development projects between the two...

• While the Dutch duo are eyeing up the UK refuse market British specialist vehicle maker Dennis Eagle has been hitting back in...

Innovations at the RAI show ranged from high-roof driverfriendly cabs to some very clever bodywork... • Are Dutch drivers the...

• Austrian truck maker Steyr seems unlikely to replace its long-serving heavy truck cab before the Euro-2 deadline in...

the top driver By Juliet Parish • Britain's top truck drivers face realistic road condi(ions and a Mastermind-style test of...

U ntil a few weeks ago my pride and joy was my 1983 Oaf 330, which I'd had for four years and with which I won nine firsts and...

• Macclesfield Magistrates have fined Able Freight Forwarding of Manchester £1,100 with £30 costs for a front axle overload of...

• Disciplinary proceedings involving BJ Skip Hire (Cardiff) have been adjourned because South Wales DLA Gerrard Sullivan wants...

• The Court of Appeal has ruled that Barrow magistrates were wrong to decide that an asphalt boiler operated by Derek...

• South Eastern & Metropolitan LA Brigadier Michael Turner has rejected a three-vehicle licence bid by Accurate Scaffolding of...

• An appeal by Sa Hord Stone & Steel against the level of a fine has been adjourned at Bolton Crown Court. Judge Harry Kershaw...

a he Hawk has long been an active supporter of the Ramblers' Association, that splendid body which promotes the delights and...

a free week's Vehicle Inspectorate course in a Workshop competition. Peter is responsible for 1,500 vehicles ranging from cars...

5 he Rotherhithe Tunnel is due to reopen this week following a month's closure for repairs. This will no doubt come as a...

rowsing through his local paper recently— the Mitcham and Morden Guardian—the Hawk came upon an impassioned plea from a reader...

ready for the great depot in the sky, judging by its owner's determination to keep it on the road at any cost. The vehicle was...

ERF in Leyland • ERF Trucks has opened a new service dealer in west Lancashire. Naylors Commercials of Leyland will service...

• Wolverhampton-based Relief Driver Services has opened a new industrial services division which will supply drivers to the...

Emplo_yers' rules • Croner Publications has published a new guide to employment law for road transport managers to inform...

• Fire Protection is a new publication giving guidance on better fire prevention in warehouses and storage areas. This is the...

Reverse warning • Ring Automotive has a new generation of reversing alarms for commercial vehicles with outputs ranging from...

• The Glass Medic screen plaster is designed to stick on to a chipped or cracked windscreen area to help contain damage until a...

• A new high-speed jam-free curtainside, designed to save time for companies making multi-drop high-street deliveries, has just...

• Vehicle washing manufacturer Smith Bros & Webb has introduced a washing machine suitable for large commercial vehicles where...

J ohn Kendall's interesting road test of a Scania/Farid 6 x 2 refuse collection vehicle (CM 3-9 Feb) mistakenly states that...

The British may well have invented the acronym of N1MBY for "not in my backyard", but judging by rumblings from the Dutch road...

DELIVERY Volkswagen's Transporter 800 Special attempts to bridge a gap in the company's van range— and it's well suited to...

This lot would normally add around £1,000 to the £9,995 of the base-model Transporter, but the Special comes in at £10,180....

lightweight van and it is possible to maintain illegal speeds as far as the engine will allow. In fact, the drivetrain defines...

the power steering. The gearchange is far from slick, but it's quite precise and feels dependable. Another welcome feature to...

Price as tested: £7,256 ex-VAT (£7,125 plus £131 for radio/cassette player). Engine: 1.4 - litre petrol, 44kW (59hp). GVW:...

Vauxhall Combo Merit 1.4i

Transverse four-cylinder fuel-injected petrol engine with three-way catalytic converter. Capacity: 1 ,389cc. Maximum net...

Ford Courier Standard Diesel: CM 29 Nov 4 Dec 1991. Nissan Sunny Diesel Van: CM 19-25 Nov 1992 Renault Extra 775 Diesel: CM...

• Cetane Index This is a measure of ignition quality: the ease with which the fuel can ignite and release its energy. The...

CFPP is a measure of a fuel's likelihood to clog a filter at low temperatures. The British Standard requires a maximum...

Cloud point is the other cold-weather test; a measure of the temperature at which wax crystals begin to form. The industry...

Fuel foaming can be a real irritation at the pumps, particularly for drivers of light vehicles, so the fuel companies have been...

This test was first introduced three years ago and will become more relevant next year when European regulations reduce the...

• The Vehicle Inspectorate options for the future—Consultation on the privatisation of HGV Test Stations. • Operator...

SI = Statutory Instrument cif = coming into force SI No 3048—The Road Veh ides (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No 3)...

CM'S roving gourmet samples some West Yorkshire hospitality at the Whitwood Truckstop where Rita's all-day breakfast satisfies...