Opinion

02/02/2024

15/01/2024

With National Pothole Day upon us, Multevo discuss their versatile, compact and road legal Multihog machine and explain why it is the ideal road maintenance solution for local authorities.

18/12/2023

Rob Bailey, APSE Principal Advisor, looks at the impact of climate change on local authority fleet services.

04/12/2023

Dave Dalton, CEO of British Glass, the UK’s trade body for glass manufacturers, explains why councils should consider the destination of their waste glass.

13/10/2023

Vicky Beechey, National Association of Waste Disposal Officers (NAWDO), makes the case for banning single-use disposable vapes.

22/09/2023

Rob Bailey, APSE Principal Advisor, looks at how local grid capacity will impact local authority fleet electrification.

25/08/2023

The extension of the Government’s Skills Bootcamps in HGV driving is a lifeline for local governments facing funding cuts. James Clifford, CEO of HGVC, discusses the scheme’s past successes and future aims.

30/06/2023

With summer upon us, local authorities are gearing up to tackle the unique challenges of road sweeping during this warm, dry season. Paul Beddows, sales director at Dawsongroup emc, highlights how the firm's electric fleet can contribute to keeping our towns and cities clean and safe, while limiting the environmental impact.

12/05/2023

James Brennan, managing director at The Procurement Partnership Ltd (TPPL), looks at how councils can achieve long-term value for money on the road to net zero.

21/04/2023

APSE principal advisor for transport Rob Bailey discusses the significant pressures on recruiting and retaining operatives and technical staff.

10/03/2023

Dr Chao Long, a researcher at Cranfield University, argues that local government urgently needs data on EV use in order to avoid mistakes around funding.

03/02/2023

Rob Bailey, APSE principal advisor for transport, looks at the challenges facing council fleet managers during the current energy crisis.

08/12/2022

Phil Clifford argues that the way we collect waste needs a radical rethink to meet the challenges ahead.

18/11/2022

Peter Taylor, the secretary general of the Tyre Recovery Association (TRA), looks at the problem of end-of-life tyres.

28/10/2022

Mo Baines, APSE’s deputy chief executive, looks at the local government pay crisis and how this affects services reliant upon drivers.

14/10/2022

Rod McKenzie, executive director of Policy & Public Affairs, Road Haulage Association (RHA) looks at the pros and cons of using Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) in trucks.

03/10/2022

Phil Clifford asks if now is the time to rethink your fleet replacement plans.

23/09/2022

Dawsongroup sweepers has changed its name to Dawsongroup emc. LAPV sat down with sales director Paul Beddows to discuss the name change, net zero and what ‘de-risking’ ownership means.

26/08/2022

Local authorities are looking to reduce the carbon footprints of their fleets. Amanda Lyne, managing director and co-founder of ULEMCo, argues that they should use hydrogen to power their vehicles.

28/07/2022

Improving air quality and reducing carbon emissions are top priorities for every local authority. James Thorpe, head of retrofit sales, Eminox explains how retrofit solutions can help.

22/07/2022

Cyber crime is an ever present threat. The leading automotive solutions provider Digital INNK tells LAPV that fleet managers should ensure their digital platforms are well protected.

07/07/2022

Mark Kemp, the new president of the Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning & Transport (ADEPT), looks at how the journey to net zero differs from council to council, but still requires collaboration.

01/07/2022

Phil Clifford makes the case for mandatory accreditation for mechanics and engineers to ensure skill levels are maintained in the face of new technology.

16/06/2022

Any business undertaking regulated activities requires prior FCA authorisation unless an exemption can be found. Without authorisation, they’re breaking the law. Unfortunately, the guidance on authorisation is not always clear cut, particularly for local authorities. James Pactat, a paralegal at Gateley Legal, sheds some light on a complicated process.

09/06/2022

Steven Meersman, co-founder and director of Zenobe, looks at the challenges to electrifying the coach sector – and how to overcome them.

26/05/2022

The deadline for every local authority to introduce weekly food waste collections is just around the corner. Pamela Woolcock, group public sector lead at BioteCH4, argues that anaerobic digestion will help councils dispose of food waste in a cost-effective way.

13/05/2022

Steve Braund, marketing manager, Totalkare makes the case for in-house testing in vehicle workshops.

29/04/2022

Abi Ademiluyi, APSE’s principal advisor for the South of England, and Rob Bailey, APSE’s principal advisor for fleet and transport, discuss fleet decarbonisation.

19/04/2022

Caroline Davis, head of public sector leasing, Triple Point explains how leasing can help councils accelerate the green transition.

14/04/2022

Phil Clifford on the importance of robust record keeping when it comes to vehicle maintenance.

01/04/2022

Neil Isaacson, CEO of public charge point operator Liberty Charge, discusses why the Government’s Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy is an important step in the right direction, and where it can go even further to support the immediate action required of local authorities.

01/03/2022

With just weeks to go until changes are made to UK driving laws surrounding the use of mobile phones, fleet managers are being urged to take urgent action to protect their business and their drivers.

22/02/2022

Brian Ritchie, chair of Resource Management Association Scotland (RMAS), urges the Government to rethink its plans to ban red diesel.

18/02/2022

Government needs to ‘level up’ the public charge point picture, says Fleet Evolution founder and managing director, Andrew Leech.

09/02/2022

DEFRA has proposed significant changes to waste services. Karen Steel, customer success manager at Granicus UK, looks at how local authorities should prepare for what's coming.

04/02/2022

Gurbaksh Badhan, a policy and advisory committee member for the National Association of Waste Disposal Officers (NAWDO), looks at how mandatory food waste collections can be a national success.

28/01/2022

As the government pushes forward with its plans for an electric vehicle (EV) future, Paul Roehricht, UK strategic account manager at Brandsafe, considers the necessity of protecting charge point installations from impact damage.

21/01/2022

Phil Clifford looks at the hurdles facing fleet managers in the year ahead.

04/11/2021

Lithium-ion batteries are thought to be responsible for a third of all fires occurring in recycling facilities. Jacob Hayler, Executive Director of the Environmental Services Association (ESA), looks at what the ESA is doing to raise awareness of this issue.

22/10/2021

Geoff McGrath, Managing Director at CKDelta, discusses how smart data can support local authorities in the rollout of electric vehicle charge points.

14/10/2021

Gavin Rimmington, Head of Public Sector at YPO, offers insight into the important role of procurement to decarbonising local government fleets, and the most efficient ways to enable large-scale transitioning.

08/10/2021

The forthcoming ban on the sale of new diesel and petrol HGVs is a challenge for local authority fleets. ARI Fleet UK’s Nimesh Chauhan looks at the hurdles ahead.

30/09/2021

Waste management operators can be reluctant to adopt large scale RFID projects. c-trace’s UK Sales Director Ian Martin tells LAPV why they should overcome their reservations.

23/09/2021

Phil Clifford explains the importance of clear record-keeping when it comes to looking after your tyres.

16/09/2021

Rob Bailey, APSE’s Principal Advisor for Transport and Fleet, looks at the options councils face when it comes to decarbonisation.

04/08/2021

Asif Ghafoor, part of the team working to deliver Greater Manchester’s electric vehicle charging infrastructure, shares practical advice for local authorities on how to plan an effective network.

29/07/2021

Responding to Defra’s publication of its second consultation on consistent collections, vice chair of the National Association of Waste Disposal Officers (NAWDO) Sam Horne asks if supply chains are ready.

22/07/2021

The Government has outlined a target to reduce carbon emissions by 78% by 2035. Susan Halliwell, joint chair of ADEPT’s South East board and executive director of place at West Berkshire Council, talks about what this means for local authorities.

15/07/2021

Greg Archer, the director of Transport & Environment, looks at what councils should do to bring an end to the postcode lottery in charging infrastructure.

08/07/2021

Phil Clifford discusses the calculations behind the decision to go electric.

21/06/2021

Rob Bailey, principal advisor for transport and fleet services, APSE, looks at how fleet services dealt with COVID-19 and will move forward.

22/04/2021

Andrew Meale, head of municipal sales at Kärcher Professional UK, discusses key considerations when carrying out grounds maintenance in springtime.

13/04/2021

Barney Goffer, product manager at Teletrac Navman UK, asks if the future of fleet management can be trusted in the hands of computer algorithms.

01/04/2021

There is light at the end of the tunnel. With the prospect of the country opening up for business again and spring beginning to show itself, all of us are now able to look to the future with a sense of optimism.

01/04/2021

Phil Clifford discusses the importance of networking and sharing best practice.

04/03/2021

Richard Lilwall, VP and European managing director at Teletrac Navman, looks at what fleet operators have to consider when going green.

17/02/2021

Vehicle fleets and drivers should be at the heart of any organisation’s post- pandemic business strategy, says Fleet Industry Advisory Group chairman Ian Housley.

11/02/2021

Andrew Meale, head of municipal sales at Kärcher Professional UK, discusses key considerations when preparing to carry out verge maintenance for springtime.

04/02/2021

Derek Bryan, VP EMEA, Verizon Connect explains how tachographs work and how fleet managers can benefit from them.

26/01/2021

Phil Clifford, a former fleet manager with over 42 years’ experience working for local authorities, looks at the challenges that await the fleet sector in the year ahead.

16/11/2020

Thus far 2020 has been a great year for electric vehicle (EV) sales. In April and May Tesla’s Model 3 was the best-selling model of car in the UK, whilst October figures show that despite an overall decrease in new car registrations of 1.6% year on year, sales in EVs increased dramatically across the board.

15/10/2020

Ian Fielding, chair of ADEPT’s Waste Group, discusses how local authorities rose to the challenge of maintaining waste services through the early days of a global pandemic.

28/09/2020

Kevin Hasley, chief commercial officer of network performance benchmarking firm RootMetrics, argues councils should view e-mobility through a 5G lens.

24/09/2020

Emily Hardy, a vehicle safety expert from Brigade Electronics UK, looks at ways to prevent blind spot collisions.

18/09/2020

Phil Clifford explores the challenges faced by vehicle manufacturers and fleet operators as the sector moves towards carbon neutrality.

20/07/2020

Phil Clifford explores how we can make the fleet industry more attractive to younger workers, turning it into a 'destination of choice' for school leavers.

25/06/2020

Allison Transmission explains how to improve fuel economy with the latest advanced gear shifting technology.

23/06/2020

Reducing emissions is essential for improving air quality. However, not all councils are prepared to switch to battery-powered vans. The answer, Steve Banner says, may well be the Ford Transit Custom 48v mild hybrid.

04/06/2020

There are a number of challenges in the world of domestic waste and recycling. C-trace argues that Radio Frequency Identification technology can provide a workable solution to many of these.

21/05/2020

Derek Bryan explains how AI is keeping an eye on road safety to give fleet managers a helping hand.

19/05/2020

It is possible to run a fleet with no software or even with no computer. However, Phil Clifford argues, you would be risking serious errors which may lead to your operation being shut down.

06/05/2020

With belts being tightened across the local government sector, it is important that fleet managers make their assets go further. One way to do this, according to Refuse Vehicle Solutions (RVS), is by refurbishing vehicles. LAPV reports.

21/04/2020

The drive to improve air quality is accelerating the rollout of clean air zones, which put extra pressure on cash-strapped local authorities. The cost-effective solution, according to Carlos Vincente of Eminox, is to retrofit existing fleets with technology that delivers Euro VI compliance.

15/04/2020

New technologies are radically transforming the way business is conducted across every sector. Derek Bryan of Verizon Connect looks at the innovations that will impact the fleet sector over the coming year.

26/03/2020

Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service has purchased a fleet of new fire appliances worth £8 million, of which the first are now in active service. LAPV reports.

18/02/2020

Paul Moorby outlines how using Big Data to analyse real-time traffic information can help councils to refine traffic management policies whilst reducing carbon emissions.

28/01/2020

Mark Griffin explains why Aberdeen City Council has introduced a fleet of hydrogen fuelled buses to help reduce emissions.

02/12/2019

Paul Connor, Head of Tenders and Procurement at Specialist Fleet Services (SFS) looks at the impact of electric vehicles on the public

04/11/2019

Anders Sjöström, Used Equipment Manager for Volvo CE Sales Region EMEA, explains how choosing Volvo Approved Used machines are as beneficial for a fleet as brand new machines.

21/10/2019

Future Fleet Forum is coming up again. January 22, 2020, will see a range of expert speakers from all over the world coming together in the Guildhall in London to talk about the latest initiatives, strategies, and technologies to help public sector fleet professionals tackle current challenges.

18/10/2019

Diesel is dead – or it will be by 2040 – but what is going to replace it? Phil Clifford considers the options currently available for fleets and concludes that what the industry needs most is more information to make the right choices. Luckily, Future Fleet Forum is just around the corner.

17/10/2019

Deputy Commissioner and Chief Fleet Officer for the City of New York, Keith Kerman highlights how the City has carried out comprehensive research on biofuel.

11/10/2019

There are currently 1,133 vehicles in the fleet. Of these, 97 are electric and we have another 173 electric vehicles on order. We also have eight CNG vehicles, two hybrid petrol vehicles with six more on order, and 20 diesel hybrids. Currently, our alternative fuel vehicles make up 11.2% of the fleet. Once the new vehicles arrive this will go up to 27%.

15/04/2019

As the driver and technician shortage worsens, Phil Clifford argues that better incentives are needed to make working in municipal fleet management attractive to young people.

26/02/2019

Rapidly changing vehicle technology means that the remarketing sector is going to have to undergo an unprecedented period of upskilling over the next decade, says Sam Watkins Chair at the Vehicle Remarketing Association.

18/02/2019

A national trade body is calling for more action to give public and private sector motorists access to hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles, to tackle air pollution, write Doug Thornton, Chief Executive of the British Compressed Gases Association, and David Hurren, Chair of the BCGA's Gaseous Fuels Committee.

15/11/2018

Phil Clifford argues that inspirational memes are all well and good but if fleet managers want to improve and safeguard their operations they need to be aware of the letter of the law and take their responsibilities seriously.

07/11/2018

Stuart Thomas, director of fleet and SME services at AA, says the Government's scrapping of hybrid vehicle grants not only has negative environmental implications but also puts unwelcomed pressure on UK fleet operators.

28/09/2018

The AA has welcomed a government pledge to invest in the UK's Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) industry but warns that fleets will only benefit if they receive adequate support.

07/09/2018

The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) has been lobbying for the introduction of regulation for vehicle technicians working with electrically-propelled vehicles. It believes it is vital that training and accreditation is extended to those dealing with the latest automotive technology at the roadside. 

22/11/2017

The political deal to reform the EU Emission Trading Scheme (EU ETS) has been welcomed by the European Chemical Industry Council (Cefic), says Cefic director general Marco Mensink.

23/10/2017

Brigade Electronics says it welcomes the Mayor of London's latest version of the Direct Vision Standard (DVS) which now includes the use of cameras and sensors and says changes to vehicle design cannot replace vehicle safety devices.

30/08/2017

‘TRL welcomes the news that the UK Government will ban the sale of petrol and diesel vehicles from 2040. This is largely in line with the Government's existing commitment to almost entirely decarbonise the transport sector by 2050, which would have required that sale of new vehicles from 2040 are restricted to zero-emission capable vehicles.

21/08/2017

Following the government's annoncement that diesel and petrol cars and vans will be banned from 2040, Peter Millichap, UK director of marketing at Teletrac Navman, says the impact of this will be huge but points out that there are measures transport companies can take to reduce emissions right now.

30/03/2017

In the wake of the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee's report: ‘Connected and Autonomous Vehicles: The future?', TRL's academy director Nick Reed, offers his view.

13/03/2017

Following changes to the law from 1 March that introduce stricter consequences for phone use while driving, TRL's head of transport psychology Shaun Helman, says attitudes and behaviours towards using social media when driving need to be changed.

20/01/2017

Fleet management software will develop towards using big data in 2017, says Chevin Fleet Solutions.

21/11/2016

Grey fleets in the UK are at record levels, accounting for 40% of all vehicles on the roads, costing companies more than £5.5bn a year in mileage claims and car allowances but are badly managed, say fleet management specialists Licence Check.

31/10/2016

Close Brothers Asset Finance says it has brought more than 600 vehicles to the UK through its involvement with the Regional Growth Fund (RGF).

01/09/2016

In-vehicle CCTV specialist, Visiontrack is calling for the Government to waive the Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) for fleets adopting accident-reducing camera telematics technology.

11/07/2016

Dominic Reid from Northgate Vehicle Hire considers how old vans can impact on customer service for local authorities.

20/06/2016

Councils can still invest in services ' despite further budget cuts ' by using asset-financing techniques. investing in efficiency-focused technology may even provide assets at zero net cost, says Chris Wilkinson, of Siemens Financial Services

20/06/2016

Leon Bosch, managing director of the motor trade practice at commercial insurance broker and risk management specialist Arthur J. Gallagher, outlines the key considerations for local authorities when choosing an insurance policy for their fleet.

20/06/2016

If you asked someone in the transport industry if they had a CPC, their positive response used to indicate that they were qualified as a Transport Manager. Not so simple nowadays as the legislators, in their wisdom, decided that the mandatory continual professional development (CPD) scheme that they introduced for HGV/PCV drivers would also be called a Certificate of Professional Competence, writes Phil Clifford.

20/03/2016

'My local authority is in the process of installing in-cab tablets to all of our fleet but how many more attention-grabbing devices can our drivers handle?' asksPhil Clifford. <

07/12/2015

The senior traffic comissioner is busy pointing out the professional duties of transport managers. But after years of erosion of our resources, the ability of many to meet these expectations is questionable, so it's time for us to dig our heels in, writes Phil Clifford.

15/06/2015

Those of us that operate under the auspices of an Operator's Licence should be fully aware of the Statutory Guidance provided by the Senior Traffic Commissioner. The current guidance documents are dated 2013 but in August, the Senior TC published a consultation aimed at updating the wording, writes Phil Clifford.