New Launches
Show Report: CV Show 2012
What a cracking event the 2012 Commercial Vehicle Show turned out to be, thanks in no small part to Ford… Read More
Mitsubishi L200 4x4 Long-Term Test 1
We has just taken delivery of a Mitsubishi L200 4x4 Club Cab for long-term appraisal… Read More
Ford Transit ECOnetic Brief Test
We’ve been putting a SWB 100hp 2.2TDi Euro 5 Transit 280 ECOnetic through its paces… Read More
Renault Kangoo ZE 2011 European Launch
Renault is at the forefront of manufacturers offering a mass produced factory-built electric van… Read More
Fuso Canter 2011 European Launch
Fuso has completely revamped its range of light and heavy truck Canter chassis and chassis crew cabs… Read More
Iveco Daily 2011 European Launch
Iveco has introduced new, latest generation diesels to its Daily range, along with detail changes inside and out… Read More
Ford Transit 2011 European Launch
Ford takes the iconic Transit to the next stage with an all-new range of 2.2-litre Euro 5 diesels… Read More
Volkswagen Crafter 2011 UK Launch
VW’s large panel van has undergone a serious makeover with changes to the front-end styling and the cab interior, as well as new Euro 5 diesels… Read More
Ford Transit Connect Electric Brief Test
We spent a day with the battery-powered Connect to get a better idea of what it’s like to live with in its natural, urban environment. Read More
Mercedes-Benz Vito E-CELL Brief Test
Currently undergoing trials with selected fleet customers in the UK, we managed to get behind the wheel of a battery-powered Vito E-CELL… Read More
Government to slash motoring red tape
The British Vehicle and Rental Association (BVRLA) has welcomed the first results of the Government’s Red Tape Challenge consultation, launched back in April, which could have major benefits for the vehicle leasing and rental sector. They are dull, but important potential changes that will save both time and money.Transport Secretary Justine Greening has announced the following results from her department’s attempts to remove or amend poor regulations:
On-demand vehicle registration (V5) documents for the fleet sector
By allowing vehicle owners to request V5 documents on demand rather than issuing them automatically from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), the government is removing the administrative cost of storing and distributing massive batches of documents.
“It remains to be seen whether this is a precursor to making the V5 an electronic document, but this will be a major cost-saver for UK fleets,” said BVRLA chief executive John Lewis, who took part in the Department for Transport’s (DfT) internal red tape debate as a ‘fleet sector champion’. “Eliminating the paperwork burden of dealing with V5’s was one of our main suggestions when the BVRLA responded to the challenge back in May.”
Abolishing the paper counterpart to the Driving Licence
The government has pledged to abolish the paper counterpart to the driving licence by 2015. This will benefit all motorists, but it will also require the DVLA to introduce real-time electronic access to driver records for rental companies, driver training companies and other organisations that currently rely on the information on the counterpart. “This is another common-sense move that removes paperwork and administrative costs,” commented Lewis. “We have recently set-up a secure line with the DVLA and look forward to working with them in enabling real-time access for members, hopefully at reduced cost.”
Removing the need for proof of insurance when taxing a vehicle
A positive result of the introduction of Continuous Insurance Enforcement, this change will again remove a big administrative cost and headache for fleets.
Driver Certificates of Professional Competence (CPC)
The BVRLA will lobby for commercial vehicle rental delivery drivers to be exempted from requiring a driver CPC.
“The DfT has highlighted farmers carrying stock to market as a potential example of where the CPC requirement could be removed, but at least they are carrying a load, possibly after a long day in the fields”, said Lewis. “In contrast, commercial vehicle rental delivery drivers will be taking empty vehicles to and from customers or branches. It makes no sense for our drivers to have to obtain the driver CPC if farmers don’t.”
Click here for more information.