As part of plans to promote a more environmentally friendly haulage sector the government has recently announced the launch of consultations on changes to regulations affecting transport vehicles. The first of these consultations considers the maximum length permitted for semi-trailers. Under current construction and use regulations the maximum standard length for a trailer is 13.6 metres, the proposals would increase … Read More
KEEPING YOUR HEAD ABOVE WATER: HOW WOULD YOU RESPOND IN A FLOOD
Recent bad weather has seen flooding in a number of areas bringing with it various risks such as drowning, structures and trees collapsing, mudslides, pedestrians and vehicles being swept away by flood water, etc. While certain risks may be reduced when the water recedes others remain, if your workplace is affected by flooding it is important that any recovery and … Read More
SAME LICENCE BIGGER VAN – part 2
Last year we reported how, as part of a plan to encourage the use of low emission vehicles, the Government was looking to allow category B licence holders to operate alternatively-fueled vehicles up to a maximum authorised mass of 4,250kg. Alternatively-fuelled vehicles can have an increased kerb weight compared with conventionally fueled equivalents. Usually a category B driving licence permits … Read More
Environment Agency warning over illegal waste dumping
Figures recently released by the Environment Agency show that the most popular types of land used by waste criminals for dumping illegal waste were farms (34% of dumps), industrial units (24%), abandoned factories (10%) and derelict sites (7%). They state that between December 2016 and November 2017 they investigated 18,244 bales of dumped waste, at approximately 1 ton each and … Read More
Same licence, bigger van
The UK Government has made various commitments to reducing pollution and the emissions of greenhouse gasses. Part of this commitment includes encouraging the use of low emission vehicles. One issue that has been identified as potentially discouraging the take up of such vehicle is the additional weight of the powertrains of alternatively fuelled vehicles and the consequent effect this has … Read More