Nick Long, Depot General Manager of City Link's Norwich Depot, (fourth from left) presenting a cheque for £700 to Mick Clarke, Palling Volunteer Rescue Service Appeal, with volunteers (back row from left) Rob Breeze, Duncan Moore, Eddie Bellerby, Keith Johnson and Alan David, and (front row from left) Steve Williams, Lewis Gladdins, Ian Flaxman, Sam Sheldon, Lesley Bellerby, Jon Bird and Debbie Johnson.

City Link’s Norwich depot has bought four new life jackets for the Palling Volunteer Rescue Service Appeal, at a cost of £700.

The Company made the donation following a request by City Link employee Mick Clarke, a lifeboat volunteer in Sea Palling for more than two years and Security Support Manager at City Link by day.

The lifeboat station is served round the clock by a team of eight volunteers. Between them they are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Mick said to raise the cash donated by City Link would take about a year’s worth of street collections.

He said: “It costs us £12,000 a year to run the service even before the lifeboat is called out to a rescue or on a training exercise.”

“Thankfully we do receive a lot of support from the Sea Palling community but this donation from City Link is fantastic. Now we can put other donations to good use elsewhere in the project.”

He added: “The life jackets will serve us well during the summer when we are always at our busiest. On behalf of my fellow volunteers on the lifeboat I would like to say a massive thank you to City Link for their generosity.”

Stuart Godman, Sales and Marketing Director at City Link, said: “Mick and his fellow volunteers do an extremely difficult job, not only with all the training they have to go through and the often dangerous situations they face when they are on call-outs for real, but in raising the cash to keep the lifeboat afloat for the safety of everyone in Sea Palling.”

“To know that our donation of £700 has made such a difference to the lifeboat team is tremendous and we are delighted to have helped the cause which does such a fantastic job for the Sea Palling community and its visitors.”

Driving forward efficiency and safety in palletised distribution, Palletline continues to invest for the future this year with the implementation of a total replacement schedule for the fork lift truck fleet in operation at the new central hub in Solihull.

Necessitating investment in excess of £750,000, the replcement scheme has already begun and will be phased in over the next 12 months.

"We are maintaining a close focus on efficiency across all our processes to match the cost, safety and operational improvements already achieved at our new hub," stated Operations DIrector Mark Pulford. "For our new forklift fleet, we were looking to achieve optimum levels of reliability and performance, together with advanced technology for reduced wear and tear, and improved ergonomics for our operators."

Palletline recognises that FLT handling skills and equipment are key to the success of the operation. The company employs only its own skilled operators at the hub, experienced in the challenges presented by the pallet distribution environment. This approach is backed up by an annual retraining programme and continuous investment in skills development.

This latest investment programme has been managed through Barloworld, specialists in developing materials handling operations to perform at peak efficiency, and involves the acquisition of new Hyster H2.0-3.5FT Fortens ™ series lift trucks.

"We believe these new models will give unprecedented levels of reliability and reduced cost of operation, helping us to deliver significant operational savings," confirmed Mark. "In addition, Hyster ergonomics are designed to reduce operator fatigue and increase productivity through superior comfort, controllability, precise, low effort handling, and easy entry and exit."

In a move designed to support significant recent growth at its London subsidiary and City 24 consolidation base, Palletline has this year invested more than half a million pounds in the acquisition of new tractor units, trailers and delivery vehicles. This bespoke fleet is designed to meet the requirements of the urban environment, enhancing both capacity and efficiency in and around the capital.

The investment covers three new Renault tractor units, a total upgrade of the trailer fleet, two 18 tonne vehicles and two Renault Mascotts. All vehicles comply with the latest emissions standards in line with LEZ requirements.

Palletline London moved to its current 40,000ft2 site in Perivale Park, Middlesex, in June of last year. Since the beginning of 2008, volume throughput has more than quadrupled, with the new premises operating as Palletline’s southern hub and increasingly as a distribution and consolidation centre for the City of London and the London boroughs.

Commenting for Palletline London, General Manager Wayne Walsh explained the reasons behind the investment. “Our expanded and upgraded fleet gives us the capacity to achieve earlier starts and later finishes, providing our customers with a more flexible distribution solution as part of the City 24 service model,” he stated.

The Palletline City 24 model is designed around consolidation, reducing the number of vehicles entering city centres by providing frequent consolidated deliveries from designated centres on the outskirts of Britain’s major towns and cities.

Commenting on behalf of Palletline Plc, Managing Director Kevin Buchanan underlined the importance of the investment. “Recognition of the individual issues posed by collections and deliveries in London has prompted us to invest further in our London fleet, bringing together the nationwide facilities of the established Palletline network with the City 24 congestion-busting solution to drive forward efficiency and performance for the London area,” he confirmed.

PALLETFORCE and W Trailer Company are working in partnership to be the first in the distribution sector to benefit from cutting edge trailer design.

Innovative commercial vehicle designers W Trailer Company have developed the UK’s first step frame double deck giving unrestricted loading access by eliminating all curtain restrictions, signalling the future of vehicle design for the palletised distribution industry.

‘CurtainClear®’ allows curtains to fully clear the sides of the trailer all the way to the rear, giving operators and drivers full side access to both top and bottom decks to reduce health and safety issues, achieve full pay load and improve speed of access.

CurtainClear® is the brainchild of W Trailer Company’s managing director Graeme Wilson and has been designed in conjunction with Palletforce shareholder member Bleach of Lavant. Graeme Wilson explains: “The ‘CurtainClear®’ design has huge advantages for the pallet network industry and is the future of double deck trailer solutions.

“In the current climate efficiency is key, so reduced turnaround times, full pay loads and speed of access are essential for economical distribution operations. “If drivers cannot leave the cab inside depots, it is time consuming driving out of the depot to move curtains to access different parts of trailers. With CurtainClear®, the curtains can be pulled all the way back and secured behind the trailer, enabling everything to be loaded or unloaded in one entrance to the hub. “Time is money, so the less time spent loading results in money saved, which is even more essential in the current economic climate.” 

Palletforce has two members using the new trailers, one already on the road with Bleach of Lavant, and another available for purchase or contract hire to a Palletforce member.

Sales and Marketing Director for Palletforce Dave Holland said: “Working with W Trailer Company demonstrates our commitment to being a leading innovative service provider for our network members and customers.  “The new trailer is a fantastic development in improving efficiency, which puts Palletforce at the forefront of the palletised distribution industry.”

The Thistle Couriers team with APC Overnight MD Ivor Skinner and Clive Gott, guest speaker at the Annual Depot Meeting

The awards are voted for by all the depots in the network, so are a true reflection of outstanding service and reliability.

Colin Clark, APC Overnight's National Depot Development Manager said: “Because all the depots work so closely together they get to know each other’s operations very well. Each depot nominates those within the network who they feel go ‘above and beyond’ to provide an excellent service to their customers. APC Thistle Couriers is undoubtedly such an organisation, and I am extremely pleased for them. Their team worked incredibly hard throughout the past year and these awards are deserved recognition of the exceptional service they provide.”  

Eagle Couriers, which has offices in Garscube Road, has appealed against a ticket that was issued on one of its courier bikes in the city centre earlier this month.

The courier was collecting a parcel from a client in Robertson Street in Glasgow’s city centre on June 2. He parked the bike, with a little part of it sticking out into a loading bay.

The bike was parked at 9.03am. By the time he returned at 9.07am he had a ticket on the part of the bike hanging over the edge of the loading bay, which had been issued at 9.06am.

The ticket is the latest in a list of fines that have been issued on Eagle Couriers bikes in the city. Earlier this year, the firm lost a year-long appeal over two of the penalty charges issued by Glasgow Council on its vehicles – as the local authority refused to accept that the courier bikes were goods vehicles and therefore ruled that they couldn’t park in the city’s loading bays when delivering packages.

Jerry Stewart, one of Eagle Couriers directors, said that the company would be fighting the city council over the parking ticket:

He added: “This isn’t the first time that we’ve had problems with regard to parking tickets in Glasgow. We’ve been fined before for parking in loading bays – despite the fact our bikes are insured-classed as goods vehicles – so we’re disappointed that the wardens have targeted us again.

“In this case, our courier was forced to park as well as he could into a bike parking bay, but due to the lack of space some of the vehicle was in the adjacent loading bay. This shouldn’t have been a problem – as our bikes are classed for insurance purposes as goods vehicles – but once again we’ve been punished for ‘illegal’ parking in the city.

“The simple fact is that we use motorbikes as they are easier to manoeuvre round the city, more environmentally friendly than other vehicles and do not cause congestion. We carry out hundreds of delivery jobs in Glasgow every day and our drivers have to stop outside offices in order to unload the goods they are delivering.

“We’re clearly causing less hassle than a van or truck does when it’s unloading on the side of the road, but we still get penalised heavily just for trying to do our job. In this case, we even tried to use a motorbike bay in order to avoid any confusion but, as some of the bike poked out into the loading bay, we were given yet another ticket.

“We feel that Glasgow City Council is being unreasonable and is continuing to put obstructions in our way. We’re carrying out a vital service to the city’s economy, but we’re being thwarted by parking wardens who are not using common sense when it comes to issuing tickets.

“We’ll be fighting this latest charge just as fiercely as the previous tickets we’ve received.”

Part of an end-to-end NetDespatch delivery management solution that is accessed via a web browser, Agility uses one type of handheld device throughout the delivery process to provide live track and trace from collection to delivery, from customer hubs to depots, including the agents and drivers.

Deliveries are time-critical and DSB guarantees next day delivery to any one of 180 hospitals across Britain by 9am. Customer orders are received electronically and quality checked by DSB prior to transferring via a powerful import engine to NetDespatch. Within seconds, all order details are then visible on the web to the DSB depots, distribution hub and customers.

Barcoded labels on incoming shipments from Europe are scanned at DSB’s hub in Didcot using the handheld devices. Similar devices, configured automatically for each user, are then used throughout the delivery chain to scan consignments through to the point of delivery. A key feature of Agility is that it eliminates the need for conventional pre-built manifests. Instead, manifests are built dynamically when the driver 'pulls' data from the web-based system by scanning the parcels.

“These particular medical supplies are literally a matter of life and death and that is why we have employed the most advanced technology available today. NetDespatch allows us to instantly check for discrepancies at every point throughout the delivery so we can be absolutely sure every consignment is correct, is en route, and is on time. This feature alone is worth its weight in gold,” says Simon Bishop, Director of DSB.

In such a critical, time sensitive environment, customer service is crucial. DSB sees NetDespatch Agility as a cutting edge solution that has big implications for improving service. DSB uses high specification Intermec handhelds that are GPRS and GPS equipped. Future plans and potential developments include satellite tracking integration and geofencing routes. This will enable the precise locating of every consignment and also provide automatic alerts to potential delays on route.

“Reassurance that deliveries are going to arrive on time is a big issue for our clients. The fact that our clients can log onto the web and check the progress for themselves is a huge benefit. NetDespatch has had a dramatic effect in reducing queries about deliveries so there are significantly fewer phone calls. With much less fire-fighting, clients are finding that they have much more time to get on with their business,” comments Bishop.

NetDespatch Agility is a unique development that offers key advantages over similar systems. With seamless integration with NetDespatch Velocity and use of software via the web, Agility can be implemented instantly to eliminate many of the traditional roll out costs and delays. The fact that the same solution and the same type of handheld device can be used throughout the delivery process also improves usability and saves money on training and hardware.

Home Delivery Network Limited (HDNL) has introduced a new proposition to its portfolio of Customer Services called „HDNL Transport‟. The proposition is to offer a UK wide delivery and collection service, which will utilise „empty transport legs‟ and offer temporary, overflow storage facilities at their central sort centre at Crick, Northampton.

HDNL Transport operates a significant transport fleet that covers all of the UK every day. Using a centralised transport planning and management system HDNL is looking to utilise its empty running by offering this capacity into the market at competitive rates. It is also hoped that take up of this service will result in HDNL reducing overall freight movements within the UK and add to HDNL‟s already strong environmental credentials as winner of two OLGA awards.

The „empty leg‟ facility will offer flexible transport solutions for businesses, on a „one-off‟ or contract basis. HDNL‟s existing tractor units and trailers will be available for single loads up to 20 tonnes, with full or shared capacity for loose, palletised and caged goods.

Brian Gaunt, Chief Executive of HDNL:

“Home Delivery Network has historically provided collection services from clients into strategically located hubs for sortation and onward distribution to a nationwide network of 58 depots. The cost of moving goods to market continues to be high and it is important that we maximise the utilisation of our vehicles by offering our empty capacity to the haulage market. By doing this at competitive rates we are providing a way for HDNL to improve the overall efficiency of the UK supply chain whilst also making a significant contribution to the environment”

Hundreds of small to medium sized businesses could take advantage of a new delivery service designed by Home Delivery Network (HDN). The company is currently piloting the SME devoted service at eight of its depots*, offering a cost effective logistics solution for businesses delivering lower volumes.

Available to companies located within a 15 mile radius of the eight depots, the service has been specifically designed for retailers despatching 2,000 - 50,000 parcels under 32 kg annually.

“We have opened our network to allow smaller retailers to take advantage of our delivery expertise and nationwide network of specialist staff,” said HDN’s Chief Executive Brian Gaunt. “The service will offer bespoke solutions for locally based SME’s looking for a cost effective and convenient delivery option.”

The delivery service includes online parcel track and trace, proof of delivery and 24 or 48 hour delivery services as standard and is available to customers based in Northern Ireland. The service is currently being piloted in eight of HDN’s regional depots and will be launched nationwide later this year.

ByBox and Acal Supply Chain have announced the launch of an alliance aimed at optimising field service supply chains. Called ‘AcalByBox’, the combined service offering will provide customers with a single platform to manage their end-to-end service delivery.

Acal Supply Chain is the clear market leader in managing all areas of the parts supply process. ByBox has developed a leading presence both in dropbox delivery networks and supply chain optimisation on its Thinventory™ software platform. As Stuart Miller, CEO ByBox comments, the alliance is a natural coming together for both parties:

“While today sees the launch of the platform, the Acal ByBox alliance has been taking shape over the last 12 months. It would be wrong for either Acal or ByBox to take all the credit for the idea. In many ways, the alliance was as much to do with listening and responding to what our combined customers were asking us to do. It was becoming clear that an integrated platform designed to optimise parts and engineers’ time would be a very compelling proposition.”

So how will customers benefit? Rob Hall, MD Acal Supply Chain, makes the case.

“The short version is that by engaging with AcalByBox, customers can expect to have 100% predictability of parts spend, enjoy a reduced exposure to obsolescence, run an ‘asset light’ model and spend far less on premium transport. In other words, they can focus on their core strengths and let AcalByBox worry about maximising their supply chain.”

One of the key principles of the proposition is that it does not require a full outsource to be effective, as Hall explains:

“It’s important to be clear that this is not a binary decision: 100% in-house or 100% AcalByBox outsource. Not at all. The service proposition is essentially a continuum – you can choose the level at which you want to engage. Of course, it’s fair to say that the deeper the commitment the more the benefit, but that shouldn’t be confused with requiring a full outsource to get going.”

Given the fact that the alliance was largely driven by market feedback, it is no surprise that the initial response is so positive, as Miller explains:

“We’re currently working with Acal on four major projects. Interestingly, all four are at different levels of engagement – from full outsource to a hybrid in-house/outsource model. What is clear is that in all case – without exception – there is a clear commercial win for the customer which would not be possible without the proactive engagement of Acal and ByBox.”

The CWU’s threat to customers of damaging strike action in London is completely at odds with its repeated claim to support modernisation and "to introduce new ways of working throughout the business". In May, the union stated its belief that "investment in, and the pace of, modernisation needs to be stepped up" and we urge them to act accordingly and not to call our people out on strike action which can only hurt our customers and damage our drive to build a strong and sustainable future for Royal Mail - and to protect the Universal Service in the competitive marketplace.

We call on the unions to honour fully existing agreements, including the agreement the union signed in the presence of the TUC in 2007, which have led to the successful introduction of new ways of working in units throughout the rest of the UK.

These agreements cover the changes we need to make in London as mail volumes fall at a rate of 10% per annum. Royal Mail has already made exactly the same changes in almost every delivery office outside London. As mail volumes fall we need to make changes and become more efficient right across the UK.

Productivity in Royal Mail offices in London already lags behind the rest of the UK with the productivity in parts of London now up to 35% below the best region and around 10% worse than the UK average,

The national agreement Royal Mail reached with the CWU in 2007 must be honoured fully and nationally, including in London offices. The proposed revisions in London ask no more of employees than in the rest of the UK and we are only putting in place changes that result directly from the changes to the amount and type of mail we are now carrying and which are already agreed with the CWU as part of the 2007 deal.

A strike will not modernise Royal Mail - it will simply disrupt the service to which customers are entitled, lead to an even greater loss of business and leave Royal Mail far less able to protect full time jobs.

Advanced web-based mobile tracking technology from NetDespatch is helping to ensure the rapid delivery of urgent medical supplies from Europe to UK hospitals.  Specialist courier DSB is rolling out the Agility system throughout its UK network to manage the transfer of the life-saving supplies.

Part of an end-to-end NetDespatch delivery management solution that is accessed via a web browser, Agility uses one type of handheld device throughout the delivery process to provide live track and trace from collection to delivery, from customer hubs to depots, including the agents and drivers.

Deliveries are time-critical and DSB guarantees next day delivery to any one of 180 hospitals across Britain by 9am.  Customer orders are received electronically and quality checked by DSB prior to transferring via a powerful import engine to NetDespatch.  Within seconds, all order details are then visible on the web to the DSB depots, distribution hub and customers.

Barcoded labels on incoming shipments from Europe are scanned at DSB’s hub in Didcot using the handheld devices. Similar devices, configured automatically for each user, are then used throughout the delivery chain to scan consignments through to the point of delivery.  A key feature of Agility is that it eliminates the need for conventional pre-built manifests.  Instead, manifests are built dynamically when the driver 'pulls' data from the web-based system by scanning the parcels.

“These particular medical supplies are literally a matter of life and death and that is why we have employed the most advanced technology available today.  NetDespatch allows us to instantly check for discrepancies at every point throughout the delivery so we can be absolutely sure every consignment is correct, is en route, and is on time. This feature alone is worth its weight in gold,” says Simon Bishop, Director of DSB.

In such a critical, time sensitive environment, customer service is crucial.  DSB sees NetDespatch Agility as a cutting edge solution that has big implications for improving service.  DSB uses high specification Intermec handhelds that are GPRS and GPS equipped.  Future plans and potential developments include satellite tracking integration and geofencing routes. This will enable the precise locating of every consignment and also provide automatic alerts to potential delays on route.

“Reassurance that deliveries are going to arrive on time is a big issue for our clients. The fact that our clients can log onto the web and check the progress for themselves is a huge benefit. NetDespatch has had a dramatic effect in reducing queries about deliveries so there are significantly fewer phone calls.  With much less fire-fighting, clients are finding that they have much more time to get on with their business,” comments Bishop.

NetDespatch Agility is a unique development that offers key advantages over similar systems. With seamless integration with NetDespatch Velocity and use of software via the web, Agility can be implemented instantly to eliminate many of the traditional roll out costs and delays. The fact that the same solution and the same type of handheld device can be used throughout the delivery process also improves usability and saves money on training and hardware.  

Eagle Couriers are carrying out work with vets surgeries in Edinburgh and performing a daily, high-profile delivery run which takes blood and tissue samples to Scotland’s leading veterinary research centre.

The contract sees drivers from Eagle Couriers visit five veterinary surgeries across Edinburgh every day to pick up samples including blood, urine and smears – which are then taken to the Royal Dick Veterinary hospital.

All samples are from pet animals that have been seen by vets in the individual practices and are transported to the hospital’s Veterinary Pathology Unit so that they can be quickly analysed the same day, in order to help with diagnosing and monitoring diseases.

The run was set up two years ago to encourage veterinary practices in the Capital to send samples to the hospital in order to give a quicker service that would benefit the practices, pet owners and their animals.

Since then, the contract has gone from strength to strength and the firm is now looking forward to delivering samples to the hospital’s new Veterinary Cancer Care centre – a unique facility opened earlier this week that has been designed to help treat pets afflicted with cancer.

Jerry Stewart, one of Eagle Couriers directors, said: “When people think of courier companies, they often imagine that we just deliver documents or data between businesses. However, there are actually many times when we have to deliver something slightly more unusual.

“Our contract with the Royal Dick Vet has been running for more than two years now and is something we are very happy to be involved with. Although these samples are not the most pleasant of things to deliver, they are very important in helping to ensure that many ill animals in Edinburgh are treated quickly.

“The Royal Dick Vet hospital is one of Scotland’s biggest and most respected animal research facilities. Its scientists help to identify diseases and chronic conditions in thousands of animals every year, so this is a very important contract for us to be involved in.

“We’re delighted to be helping the hospital and securing the welfare of many ill pets across the east of Scotland.”

Around 40 samples taken from animals treated at the vet surgeries are delivered weekly by Eagle Couriers to the Royal Dick Veterinary Hospital. Each are given multiple tests by researchers at the facility.

Simon Waters, Managing Director of Roadnet Automotive

Roadnet leads the way in supplying innovative laser detection and GPS systems used by professional and private drivers throughout Britain to keep them alert of road dangers and ensure that they conform to legal speed limits. Roadnet is passionate about providing first class products and service and its customers are enthusiastic about their purchases and expect prompt delivery. This is the key reason why Roadnet moved its business to APC Overnight from Royal Mail Special Delivery.

“We needed a courier that could work with us to ensure that we fulfil our daily orders and APC Overnight stepped up to the mark. The local depot provides a late collection allowing us to process and despatch as many orders as possible. Orders received up to 4.30 pm will be with our customers the next day,” says Simon Waters, Roadnet’s Managing Director.

APC Eezehaul makes scheduled daily collections from Roadnet’s site using satellite-tracked couriers. In addition, Roadnet is able to track parcels to the point of delivery to any address anywhere in the British Isles using the APC Overnight supplied NetDespatch online tracking system. Simon Waters also highlights that the organisation’s approach to customer service is exceptional and provides the support that a fast moving business requires.

“The local depot understands our requirements and we are treated with the utmost respect. They manage our account carefully and ensure we are happy with the service. The level of communication from Eezehaul is excellent and the customer service team understands our need for flexibility,” concludes Simon Waters.

Roadnet supplies a wide range of detection, GPS and laser systems from leading brands such as Laser Star. By keeping abreast of the latest technology the company provides products that not only help drivers to keep their licences unblemished but also mean safer, happier driving.

Eagle Couriers, which has bases in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Bathgate, has said that it has been so successful recently with new business including £3 million contracts with communications giant BT and NHS Scotland that is looking for more red vans to add to the fleet.

However, the company has found that there is a shortage of red vans being manufactured across the continent and is now considering changing its entire fleet to white – after waiting more than a year for a new consignment of vehicles.

And while the Government is offering £2000 for those who trade in old cars, Eagle Couriers’ director Jerry Stewart has joked that there should be an incentive for people to trade in red vans.

Jerry Stewart, one of Eagle Couriers’ directors, said: “It’s been an incredible 12 months for us between new business, buying up competitors like QED and natural wear and tear on vehicles, so we went to get replacement vans.

“However when we went to van suppliers they told us that there’s a shortage of red vans – they aren’t being made due to the credit crunch. Coloured vans just aren’t being made in the traditional numbers. We can’t get our hands on them at all.

“It’s incredible. Here we are, a Scottish success story, and a business improving thanks to our growing reputation for quick delivery across the UK but we’re stumped for red vans.

“If we can’t source red vans soon – or if we don’t hear of red vans being available – then we may have to look at changing the fleet over to another colour.

“Apparently there’s something like 23,000 white vans lying unsold in Europe, so that may be the way forward, but it would be a shame to lose our distinctive livery as it’s built up a lot of goodwill over the 30 years we’ve been in business.

"One thing is certain though: our customers don't have to worry - we aren't short of vans, so all deliveries will be made on time as always - we'd just like to have some more.”

If the firm do move over to white, they’ll be moving over to a safer colour of vehicle, according to motoring body the RAC Foundation.

White has been shown in tests to be the safest colour for driving in, while red has ranked as one of the worst.

RAC Foundation spokesman Philip Gomm said: “Daimler Benz did a study a few years ago, which showed white was the safest colour for a vehicle in most lighting while red was second bottom in the list of 19 colours.

“Another study, carried out in 1995 showed that on mainland Europe, white fire engines tended to be in less accidents than red fire engines. In America, another report stated that white allowed for very high visibility across a variety of driving conditions.”

Phil joked: “Perhaps they should ask for a reduction in their insurance premiums. Seriously though, it may well be that this move results in less accidents and bumps for the fleet.”

Van buyers will find it easier to cut emissions and save money due to a new van CO2 data base launched by Transport Secretary Andrew Adonis today.

The online database - the biggest of its kind in Europe - has been compiled by the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA), Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), and Department for Transport (DfT). It allows users to search for new van models on the UK market and compare their CO2 emissions and the fuel consumption.

Vans make up around 15% of road transport emissions in the UK and their emissions are rising at the highest rate of any road vehicle. If everybody buying a new van bought the most fuel efficient model in its class the average buyer could save up to 17% on both CO2 emissions and fuel costs.

Launching the database at the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership's annual conference in London today, Transport Secretary Andrew Adonis said:
"It's important to help motoring consumers make the right choice, both for themselves and for the environment.

"This database is good news for van buyers - it gives them access to emissions and fuel consumption information that could well shape the van they choose, as well as enable them to cut emissions and save money.

"At a time when the Government is working hard to create a stable financial environment to encourage long-term investment in the motoring industry this tool is also good news for van producers by stimulating interest and demand in the models they make."

Speaking on behalf of the industry, SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt said:

"Van makers are all committed to providing information that will help buyers make better informed choices and this database provides a level playing field for easy comparison. We believe that our efforts in assisting government departments compile this information will not only impact positively on tailpipe CO2 emissions but will also help buyers select the most economical vehicle they need for their business."

The database can be accessed on the Business Link website alongside tips for van buyers on how to choose the right van for their needs and how to save fuel costs from the way they use the vehicle

A new cost-effective magazine delivery service from APC Overnight offers a new option for printers, publishers and mail-order firms to distribute their publications. The service is suitable for all types of less time-sensitive printed materials such as catalogues, magazines, directories and reports that do not require a customer signature and are deliverable within one to three days.

Steve Calvert, Director, APC Express Logistics in Nottingham reports that one of his depot’s customers has put the new service to the test. The client already utilises other APC Overnight services and agreed to trial the magazine service against its current catalogue delivery provider, Royal Mail.

“Both Royal Mail and APC Express Logistics were given 850 consignments each, with the client’s expectation for all deliveries to be made in around three days. Ninety per cent of APC Overnight consignments were delivered next day. Royal Mail took an average of three days to deliver, with up to seven days for some consignments. The customer was delighted with APC Overnight, not only with the time scale and but also that all the consignments via our service were delivered. We have now been invited to quote for the customer’s main annual run of 10,000 catalogues,” said Steve Calvert.

With over 125 APC Overnight depots strategically located throughout the UK, the magazine service provides a nationwide money-saving alternative to more costly hardcopy publication distribution services available via Royal Mail and Business Post.

Magazine service customers can use plain or own-branded packaging and package weight can be up to 2kg, with a minimum run of 50 items. This allows customers to simply switch over from their usual supplier without changing their publishing and packaging operation.

“The magazine service will reduce distribution costs for printers, publishers and mail-order marketers. We have trimmed down the costs to provide precisely what customers are looking for in a magazine service. We believe that this is an exceptional offering that will benefit many UK organisations that are looking to control their publication distribution costs without cutting corners in service quality. The service can be booked via the customer’s local APC Overnight depot to arrange collection from their own premises or directly from the printer,” said Jon Barber, Marketing Director, APC Overnight.

A Rangers fan was given the chance to hand deliver the SPL trophy to his heroes just days after they beat arch-rivals Celtic to the title.

Delivery driver Jim Gilmour got the unexpected job during his shift with Scotland’s leading independent courier firm Eagle Couriers, and was delighted to find out that he would be delivering the prestigious trophy back to Ibrox after being engraved.

Jim, who lives in Glasgow and is a die-hard Gers supporters, said: “I’ve had football trophies in the back of my van before, as we deliver them for special occasions, but this was still a very proud moment.

“Because of the dramatic end to the SPL season, and the fact that we pipped Celtic to the title on the last day of the season, it was a pretty special job to get. Although the package was sealed up, it was a great feeling to know exactly what was in the box and delivering it to Ibrox was a big thrill.”

The delivery was just one of the scores of occasions every year that Eagle Couriers gets to transport major sporting trophies around the country. In the past, the firm has helped deliver the Scottish Cup, CIS Cup and Heineken Cup trophies to official engagements, and it also regularly delivers film for TV companies that cover some of Scotland’s biggest sporting occasions.

Jerry Stewart, one of Eagle Couriers directors said: “We regularly deliver major sporting trophies during the year – usually when they are required for special events or after they have been engraved with the winners’ name.

“However, it’s often the case that the couriers who deliver them aren’t a fan of the team that has won them, or even the sport that these trophies represent.

“It’s great that, this time, one of our staff had the chance to deliver the SPL trophy to the club he supports and loves.”

Derek Beevor, Managing Director of Road Tech Computer Systems (on left) with William Salter, Managing Director of Paragon Software Systems

The interface will enable accurate tachograph information about recorded drivers’ hours to be imported directly into the Paragon software.  Tachomaster records Working Time Directive (WTD) data for each driver and the Paragon software uses this information to smooth out driver workloads. This will help to ensure compliance with driver hours regulations, maximise overall driver productivity and reduce costs.

The Paragon Resource Manager module is used to maintain information about planned driver shifts and fleet availability at individual driver and vehicle level.  This information is fed to the Paragon Routing and Scheduling Optimiser to generate the route schedules.  Planned schedules are then matched to actual fleet availability and the individual shifts intended to be worked by each driver on that day.

Companies using Tachomaster to capture their analogue or digital tachograph data can then use the new interface to store the actual drivers’ hours worked in Paragon Resource Manager.  Paragon evaluates each driver’s WTD statistics and uses this in its planning process to ensure even and legal workloads for drivers.  Drivers with a high average are automatically allocated the shorter runs, whereas drivers that have fallen behind are given longer runs.  This helps ensure drivers adhere to regulations and also gives transport managers the ability to better manage drivers' workloads during peak periods.

In addition, for companies using Paragon’s Fleet Controller application, vehicle tracking histories will be accessible for free through the Tachomaster screens, enabling users to see vehicle trails where a violation or unexpected break occurred.

“It is often hard for transport operators to match driver resources with changing transport plans and now more than ever operators need to cut wastage by streamlining their operations.  Accurate tachograph data from Tachomaster will add a vital new dimension to Paragon’s routing and scheduling software, allowing unnecessary driver costs to be significantly reduced by automatically levelling driver workloads,” says William Salter, Managing Director of Paragon Software Systems.

NetDespatch has announced an innovative web-based software solution for managing international postal and courier services over the Internet.  Offering easy booking and tracking for shipments anywhere in the world using a standard web browser interface, the online software makes the whole process simpler, eliminating the need to complete numerous forms.

The solution uses the latest intelligent web technology. This means that the system 'knows' what to ask for to produce the appropriate documentation for domestic, EU and non EU destinations, whether post or express delivery. With a knowledge base continually maintained by NetDespatch, the smart system deals with all International Character sets, different country rules, address formats and customs requirements, including CN22, CN23 customs documents and export invoices that are key to the postal sector.

NetDespatch is a pioneer in Cloud Computing and the solution is part of the suite of NetDespatch web-based software applications for improving distribution efficiency and profitability.  Velocity International is provided as a wholly managed IT service. A key attraction of this service is that companies only pay as they use it, eliminating up-front costs.  Charges simply depend on the volume of consignments and costs therefore match fluctuating revenues.

“As the first new generation web solution which is available simply on-demand, we believe Velocity International offers a much simpler, more efficient and more cost effective alternative to anything else on the market,” says Becky Clark, CEO of NetDespatch. “Through a single application, the software automates everything from booking and tracking to pre-labelling, pricing and documentation.  And, the data import capabilities and system integration tools are completely unique and a first in the international postal and courier market.”

Because the software is centrally hosted and web-based, it is instantly available anywhere in the world using an Internet connected PC or PDA.  For postal and courier networks there is no complex infrastructure to support and the Software as a Service solution eliminates the high costs associated with software development, upgrades and special equipment.

Peace One Day Founder Jeremy Gilley (centre), with Petchey Academy School Citizenship Teacher Ms Emma Leenders and DHL Express Courier Robert Williams.

Directed by filmmaker and founder of Peace One Day, Jeremy Gilley, the film charts his remarkable 10-year journey to establish an annual Peace Day on 21 September. Featuring Kofi Annan, HH the Dalai Lama, Angelina Jolie, Annie Lennox and Jonny Lee Miller, the film’s breathtaking conclusion then finds Gilley joined by Jude Law in Afghanistan, attempting to spearhead a massive vaccination against Polio on Peace Day. The DVD works in conjunction with The Peace One Day Citizenship Resource, a fully interactive educational experience, containing practical lesson plans and homework tasks linked to the National Curriculum.

Peace One Day Founder Jeremy Gilley said:  “Our goal is to provide resource materials to every school in the world, inspiring a generation to become the driving force behind the vision of a united and sustainable world. I am very excited about the potential of this education resource to make a real difference and we are grateful to companies like DHL for their support. Peace Day is working. Lives are being saved and individuals are making commitments.”

DHL’s Supply Chain, Express and Williams Lea business units collaborated on this project, managing the logistics of the education pack including printing, packing, sorting and distribution of the material free of charge.

Ken McCall, DHL Express CEO UK & Ireland, said:  “DHL was delighted to help Peace One Day in their mission to give our nation’s young people access to The Day After Peace film and accompanying education resources this year. Our strong network enabled this important learning opportunity to reach over 6400 schools throughout the country within 2-3 days.”

One of the world’s largest independent drinks companies has turned to Palletforce to help distribute its popular alcoholic brands across the country. Global Brands Limited, which produces some of the UK’s most recognised alcoholic drinks including, VK Vodka Kick, VK Vodka, Corky’s Vodka Shots and Goldschlager, is using Palletforce’s new £30million distribution hub at Burton-upon-Trent to transport its range to hundreds of major retailers and wholesalers.

Kevin Hopkinson, Global Brands transport manager, said: “Our distribution operations are already run from Burton so it makes perfect sense to use Palletforce. “The unique member network means we can effectively deliver our consignments, which often come in different shapes and sizes, instead of sending half empty trucks across the country which helps cut costs.”

Marketing and sales director for Palletforce Dave Holland said: “We are delighted to be working with Global Brands in providing a cost effective solution for the distribution of its products. “As part of Palletforce’s growth we are continually developing strategic and national accounts with major manufacturers and retailers. “We are seeing an increase in companies looking more favourably towards using palletised distribution networks like Palletforce rather than dedicated fleets for improved efficiency and cost-saving.”