The new tachograph is designed and manufactured at the company’s European headquarters in Bromma, Sweden and its launch is expected to bring major efficiency gains to the road transport industry. What makes the new digital tachograph different is that it records driving time and non-driving time in segments of a minute versus whole minute sections currently.

The SE5000 ExaktTM arrives well ahead of the scheduled changes to Annex 1B of the driver’s hours regulation due in October 2011, which will now make it possible for road transport operators to improve productivity by ensuring only true driving time is recorded. Annex 1B states that the single longest continuous activity undertaken within a given minute will be logged against that specific action.

For instance, if a driver is driving for one minute and 29 seconds and then conducts other duties for the remaining 31 seconds of that minute, only one minute will be recorded as driving time versus two at present.

This means that truck, bus and heavy van operators stand to make considerable gains in driving hours and therefore productivity. Initial trials in Sweden have shown time savings of up to 45 minutes per day per driver on a typical road transport operation, which would have previously been allocated as driving time.

The SE5000 ExaktTM is designed to be user-friendly with clear menus, large symbols and logical instructions for ease-of-use. Furthermore, the advanced Stoneridge tachograph can provide drivers with readouts of remaining driving time while on the move.

Peter Hafmar, Product Manager for Tachographs at Stoneridge Electronics, said, “The launch of the SE5000 Exakt showcases the next generation of digital tachographs. As it records driver hours accurately it will significantly improve productivity for road transport operations. At present drivers are losing valuable driving time because of the way in which hours are logged, but the changes to the legislation, and the launch of Stoneridge’s new digital tachograph, will have a positive effect on the recording and administration of driver’s hours”.

“But don’t just take our word for it”, said Geoff Dunning, Chief Executive of Show Partner the Road Haulage Association.

“Today we received the official audited figures that put the Show’s visitor number at an outstanding 9,452.

“The Show Partners were never in any doubt that this Show would be a success and these figures just confirm it.  The bottom line is that although not on the same scale as the 2008 CV Show, we still managed, over the same three days, to attract one third of the visitors.  Considering the economic climate over the past 12 months, I’m sure I am not alone in feeling even more optimistic for the 2011 CV Show.”

The event was held at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham from 13-15 April 2010.

“The positive response from exhibitors has been overwhelming,” said Road Haulage Association Chief Executive Geoff Dunning, representing the Show Partnership.

“And with over 300 exhibitors, covering every aspect of the UK transport and logistics industry, there was certainly plenty for operators to see and consider for future use.”

Renault was particularly pleased with the success of its stand at the CV Operator Show and presented three van debuts.  Speaking on the final day of the show, Renault UK’s Brand Communications Manager, Mark Waller, said, “Even though this year’s event is on a smaller scale than usual due to the economic downturn, we’ve been pleasantly surprised by the volume and consistently high quality of the customer enquiries we’ve received over the three days.  The new Kangoo Van Maxi and Master models have obviously been good draws to our stand and overall we’re expecting interest in all the new models to be high in the coming months after the show.”

“There were some doubts concerning the impact of an industry show at what is still a critical time in economic terms,” Geoff Dunning continued.  “I am delighted that last week proved, without a shadow of doubt, that there is still the need and the enthusiasm to showcase transport and logistics; the most important player in the recovery and future success of the UK economy.”

The Show’s positive feeling was shared by many other exhibitors. Truckrax launched its new Toploader ladder loading system at the Show.  Truckrax’s Scott Finding said, “The levels of interest in the new system far exceeded our expectations and we have lots of good leads to follow up from high-quality visitors.”

The Commercial Vehicle Operator Show is owned by the CV Show LLP, comprising the Road Haulage Association, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders and IRTE Services Ltd, the trading company of the SOE (Society of Operations Engineers).  Crystal Communications managed the Show organisation, stand sales and marketing.

For further information please visit www.cvoperatorshow.com.

Michael Conroy, CEO of Palletforce, said, “Palletforce was founded in 2001 to offer an express delivery service for small consignments of palletized freight, and has grown to become one of the UK’s leading distribution networks. We have led the way in developing smart technology and our new £30million distribution hub is now one of the biggest in Europe.

“One of our cornerstones is to drive excellence and innovation within the logistics sector, so we are thrilled to be taking part in this year’s CV Operator Show. We are also keen to support the wider transport industry and the RHA as many of our members, who are successful hauliers in their own right, are part of the association and share our common goal for industry success and opportunity,” he continued.

The event will be held at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham from 13-15 April 2010.

Among the 300 exhibitors there will be a huge range of systems and technology to help cut fuel use, operating costs and emissions.  These vary from sophisticated fleet management software to tyre pressure monitoring or axle weighing kit and much, much more.  The squeeze on cash means every penny has to go further and operators are all looking for ways to increase efficiency.

At the same time, operators and vehicle makers have to look at changing legislation and the way it will affect them.  Whole Vehicle Type Approval is a good example.  This started progressively last April and will soon affect virtually all vehicle buyers and makers, in theory making it easier to buy or sell commercial vehicles anywhere across Europe.

That’s the theory and the easy bit.

The practice is already proving more difficult, which is why the SMMT has set up a special advisory service to help vehicle makers.  It will launch SENTA at the CV Operator Show, to help steer vehicle makers, particularly bodybuilders and trailer makers, through a thicket of much misunderstood legislation.

Type Approval as a principle has been around for years.  It means that if someone makes a series of vehicles, each one of them meets all the legal requirements.  In other words, if they are designed to the same specification, they are built to the same specification.  The firm needs to say what it will do, do it and then prove it.  The buzz words are ‘self-certification.’

This also means that someone will need to sign something to say that a complete vehicle, including chassis, cab, body, tail-lift, side-guards and under-run protection meets all the rules.

The key is for chassis makers, dealers, and customers to talk at every stage and be clear right from the start who will take that overall responsibility.

As dealers handle around 90% of all registrations, they will be in the front line, whether they want to be or not.  “The crucial point is that without Type Approval paperwork, you won’t be able to register a new vehicle,” says the SMMT.  “And of course, if you can’t register it, you can’t sell it.  The line to remember is ‘no approval, no registration, no sale.”

And the final point is that, come the day, you can’t just nip down to the Post Office or the local Traffic Office and buy a Type Approval Certificate.  Getting the process sorted may take months.

This is why the SMMT set up SENTA – SMMT European and National Type Approval Guide.  You learn more about it on the Society’s stand 5702 at the CV Operator Show, at the NEC from 13 to 15 April, or from the SMMT website www.smmt.co.uk

The Commercial Vehicle Operator Show is owned by the CV Show LLP, comprising the Road Haulage Association, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders and IRTE Services Ltd, the trading company of the SOE (Society of Operations Engineers).  Crystal Communications will manage the Show organisation, stand sales and marketing. 

For further information please visit www.cvoperatorshow.com.

So, if you’re considering what the best training options are for your business, a visit to this year’s Commercial Vehicle Operator Show at Birmingham’s NEC from 13-15 April is THE place to find out more.

The legislation surrounding transport training seems to change on an almost daily basis but visitors to the Show can be assured that with providers from every sector of the industry, they really will be getting the latest advice and information.

One of the Show’s three Partners, the Road Haulage Association will be a particular training hot spot as the Association has its own dedicated division covering all aspects of training including Health and Safety, Driver CPC, Rescue and Recovery DCPC and the Professional Driver Update 2010.

Running from 13 to 15 April 2010 at NEC Birmingham, visitors are invited to meet Paragon’s experts on stand number 5970 to learn how operators worldwide are benefiting from the company’s advanced logistics software.

Paragon will demonstrate the latest versions of its user-friendly Single Depot and Multi Depot map-based routing and scheduling products. These automate and simplify the arduous task of creating and managing accurate transport plans. Both versions of the software remove the guesswork and reliance on individual schedulers and bring new operational efficiencies and savings to any size of commercial vehicle operation. The Multi Depot version delivers the additional benefit of a single enterprise-wide system that schedulers can access from various locations.

The latest developments include Paragon’s Resource Manager, which gives a bird’s eye view of all drivers and vehicles with their availability and capabilities.

The advanced resource-managed planning solution compiles data about all drivers and vehicles used by a company, including their availability and hours worked each day. Transport managers use this information to create Working Time Directive (WTD) compliant schedules with even workloads that limit use of agency drivers and vehicles. By levelling driver workloads over a period, this reduces overtime costs and the need for extra agency drivers, as well as giving transport managers greater flexibility at peak times.

Meanwhile to improve transport planning further, Paragon is offering an option to utilise ITIS-based road speed data. The Paragon enhancement incorporates road data including a calculated average speed, for each direction, at road link level. This is based on a history of observations of vehicles travelling on that road link. It means route plans will be more realistic and hence both more accurate for transport managers and more acceptable to drivers. This improvement is useful both for companies using Paragon to plan their daily delivery operations and the many third party logistics companies using it to quote for new business.

Vehicle operators are also able to integrate real-time feeds from their vehicle tracking systems with Paragon planning using the Fleet Controller module. The real-time status of each vehicle can be compared against the plan, allowing it to be rescheduled as the day’s work progresses. Benefits include automatic updates of delivery times for customers and enhanced Duty of Care. In addition, because vehicles are monitored live on screen and plans are refined using real world data, further reductions in fuel usage and road miles can be achieved..

to operating problems, helping to maximise efficiency and improve profit margins.

The organisers say the show, which runs from 13-15 April will give exhibitors a superb opportunity to reach thousands of potential new customers, face to face, in just three days at the NEC in Birmingham.

The organisers acknowledge that running a vehicle fleet is a far more complex business than simply sourcing and purchasing vehicles, whether light or heavy.

While acquiring vehicles is an essential function, their ongoing operation is dependent on a variety of different products and services.

It is these products and services, which the Commercial Vehicle Operator Show will present to a dedicated audience of transport engineers, transport managers and logistics specialists.

will provide visitors with a wide range of solutions to operating problems, helping to maximise efficiency and improve profit margins.

The organisers say the show, which runs from 13-15 April will give exhibitors a superb opportunity to reach thousands of potential new customers, face to face, in just three days at the NEC in Birmingham.

The organisers acknowledge that running a vehicle fleet is a far more complex business than simply sourcing and purchasing vehicles, whether light or heavy.

While acquiring vehicles is an essential function, their ongoing operation is dependent on a variety of different products and services.

It is these products and services, which the Commercial Vehicle Operator Show will present to a dedicated audience of transport engineers, transport managers and logistics specialists.

Recent signings range from tyre companies such as ATS Euromaster, Goodyear Dunlop and Michelin to workshop equipment suppliers like MAHA and Stertil.

Van makers will be there in strength next April, with several new vehicle launches due.  Renault and Peugeot are the most recent recruits, with a wide range of bodybuilders dedicated to getting the most out of a van or light truck.

New exhibitors In-Car PC, Fargo Systems, Interbin Storage and Display and Trakm8, will all benefit from meeting thousands of transport operators and service workshop directors and managers.  Visitors will find access to the Show even easier this time, as pre-registration for free tickets is already open at www.cvoperatorshow.com or www.workshopshow.co.uk.    

Another development for 2010 will be an online Show Guide courtesy of Reed Transport Group, whose magazines Commercial Motor and Motor Transport will carry a hard copy three weeks before the Show.

“I am delighted that the reaction to next year’s show has been so positive,” said the Society of Operations Engineers’ Chief Executive Nick Jones.

“The enthusiasm shown by so many key industry suppliers has far surpassed our expectations and I am convinced that the CV Operator Show and Workshop 2010 will form a blueprint for the future of such events in the UK and the rest of Europe.”

As Britain begins its slow economic recovery, operational efficiency will be the name of the game.  For the road transport and automotive service industry, the CV Operator Show and Workshop 2010 should help smarter firms stay ahead of the competition.

The event will be held at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham from 13-15 April 2010. 

The Commercial Vehicle Operator Show is owned by the CV Show LLP, comprising the Road Haulage Association, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders and IRTE Services Ltd, the trading company of the SOE (Society of Operations Engineers).  Crystal Communications will manage the Show organisation, stand sales and marketing. 

For further information please visit www.cvoperatorshow.com

can now register online for a Fast Track entry pass.

“There are always queues, particularly first thing as the show opens,” said Robin Dickeson, press officer.

“So as there will be lots to see, it’s well worth getting ahead of the game and beating those queues to make the most of the time in the exhibition.”

The CV Operator Show will be open from 08:30 to 17:30 on Tuesday 13 April, Wednesday 14 April and Thursday 15 April.

Companies such as Eberspacher, Tevo, Sortimo and Chambers plan to use the event next Spring to show how they can help people get the best out of a van or truck.

The trend, clear at recent CV Shows, suggests even more interest next year, according to the organisers.

They expect an even wider range of options on show next spring, adding value to van or truck chassis.