Category Archives: Logistics

UK Laws and Regulations For Goods Vehicle Operators

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In the UK all goods vehicle operators require a goods vehicle operators licence, if the vehicles used are above a certain weight.

Specifically the gross plated weight limits, which is the maximum weight a vehicle can have at once, are 3,500 kg, or an unladen weight of 1,525 kg. Past these weights and the driver of the vehicle will require the licence.

  • Any drivers that are employed by a business must have the correct licences and training.
  • Goods vehicles must be correctly taxed and kept in good condition at all times.
  • The rules are different for businesses in Northern Ireland.

Drivers of goods vehicles that use a motor vehicle and trailer combination will also need a goods vehicle operators licence.

The weight limits for this are 3,500 kg, with a unladen weight of 1,525 kg. This is the weight limit for both the motor vehicle and trailer combination.

An operators licence is not required if the trailers unladen weight is less than 1,020 kg and the driver is carrying only their own goods.

 

Tracking Vehicles and Managing Fleets Using GPS Tracking

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There have been many advancements in cellular and satellite communication technologies over the last decade. These advancements have allowed the development of GPS tracking devices to progress to a point by which they are now available for use on everyday road vehicles.

Trucks, vans, vehicles, barges and equipment can all be tracked using a GPS tracking device. These devices can provide detailed information on the status of vehicles, as well as employees and inventory. The information relayed by these devices is in real-time. This allows vehicles to be located with greater efficiency than any other previous tracking methods used in the past. This way of tracking is extremely valuable to businesses who want to remain competitive in the logistics industry.

GPS tracking devices can also be used as fleet tracking devices when used on trucks and other logistics vehicles. These work by connecting to a dedicated online fleet management system, allowing businesses to keep track of their vehicles with high efficiency.

The Different Trucks And Trailers Used For Transportation

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There are many different types of vehicles that are used for transportation, the most common of these are trucks and their accompanying trailers.

Semi-trailer truck

Semi-trailer trucks comprises of a tractor vehicle and a semitrailer. The semi-trailer dimensions are approximately 13.6 x 2.45 x 2.7 m, with a maximum load capacity of 24,000 kg. They are best suited for palatalized cargo and can be loaded from the back, sides or top.

Tail-lift truck

As the name suggests, Tail-lift trucks are fitted with a lifting mechanism next to the rear doors. This is used to assist in loading cargo on and off of the trailer. The tail-lift mechanism can lift cargo weighing 500-2000 kg, depending on the model.  They are predominately used for distribution transport.

Jumbo trailer trucks

Jumbo trailer trucks, also known as mega trucks, are best suited for lightweight, voluminous goods. The trailer can hold up to 33 Euro pallets, or 26 UK pallets and have a load capacity of 24000 kg.

Things To Remember When Renting Logistical Vehicles

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Many logistical companies opt to rent their vehicles instead of buying them outright. This is especially prominent among smaller businesses that are just starting out, since buying a fleet of transportation trucks is not typically an investment that a business can afford in early on.

There are many advantages to doing this. For one the business will not have to worry about the long term maintenance that logistical vehicles often require. As long as the vehicle is fueled and kept in reasonable condition, that is often all that is required to get the job done. It’s important to remember however that if any damages are incurred upon the vehicle, it will have to be repaired manually or payed for in some way.

Before renting a vehicle, it might be a good idea to research how much it will cost. In some instances, depending on the size of the job, it may very well be the case that it’s more cost effective to just buy the vehicle instead of renting.

How The Electronic Parts Of Cars Are Powered

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Almost all vehicles running on the roads today have electrical components. These are also known as the car’s electricals and are just as important as the engine when it comes to making the car run.

For the electricals to work they need power, which comes in the form of electricity. This electricity comes in two different forms, these are the alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC). This is what powers all of the electrical components, keeping them running when necessary.

The electricity that powers these components is stored in the car’s battery. But there is only a limited supply that can be emitted from the battery, and after powering the components for too long the battery will run out of power.

To counter this issue, cars make use of alternators. These are small generators that transfer the motion of the mechanical parts of the car into electricity. This is fed into the battery where it is stored.