European Parliament Boosts Road Safety and Eco-Friendly Trucks, We Recover Stolen Crane + Highlights Fleet Management's Role in Sustainability an

The European Parliament voted in favor of the Revision of the Weights and Dimensions Directive.

In July 2023, the European Parliament Commission proposed making freight transportation more environmentally friendly. One key proposal involves updating the Weights and Dimensions Directive, which governs truck size and weight limits in international road transport.

The proposal “seeks to further promote the use of zero-emission trucks by allowing these to exceed the standard weight limits. It also aims to clarify the rules on use of heavier and longer vehicles in cross-border transport operations between countries where such vehicles are allowed*.”

NLA welcomes the support from the European Parliament

Continued flexibility that allows high-capacity vehicles (HCVs) to travel across borders of consenting countries was welcomed by Erik ?stergaard , CEO of DTL and chairman of the NLA board.

- This is a significant step forward and NLA welcomes the support from the European Parliament. Driving with heavier, longer and higher combinations is the most efficient way for commercial road transport to bring down fuel consumption, reduce emissions and the number of trucks on the road. HCVs also contribute to the alleviation of Europe’s widespread driver shortage while making Europe’s roads safer by reducing the number of traveling vehicles.

More sustainable vehicle options within the EU

Addressing that, current regulations inadvertently disadvantage zero-emission HCVs, which are often heavier than diesel-fused vehicles. A proposed four-tonne weight increase and a one-tonne axle increase aim to accelerate the shift towards more sustainable vehicle options within the EU.

Notably, this added weight is detached from the actual weight of the zero-emission technology, allowing operators to benefit further as these technologies become lighter.

- The latest proposal on weights and dimensions is a game-changer for the transportation industry. At GSGroup, we are excited to support our clients through this transition. The allowance of additional weight for zero-emission HDVs is a clear incentive that aligns with our commitment to sustainability and innovation in the sector says Claus Frost Wrang Business Unit Director FAT GSGroup

Next step

Trilogue discussions involving the Council and the European Parliament are set for June 2024, with the possibility of a second reading afterward. If the directives are adopted, they will come into effect as soon as 1 January 2026.

*EPRS_BRI(2023)754595_EN PDF?(www.europarl.europa.eu)

Telescopic crane stolen from construction site in Finland, found in Estonia by GSGroup

A telescopic crane worth 120,000 euro was stolen from a construction site in Vantaa, just outside Helsinki. The thieves managed to disable the tracking device by cutting the GPS antenna. However, this did not stop GSGroup's search team from locating the crane.?

- It was a challenging operation, but we managed to find the crane despite attempts to disable the tracking, says Tiia Kaukolampi , Head of Sales in GSGroup Finland. ??

One early morning, GSGroup received a call from Finland. On the other end, a distraught customer reported that a telescopic crane had been stolen overnight. The search team checked the crane and it was not at the construction site but on the highway loaded onto a machinery trailer.?

- We got a few positions and could see a pattern which indicated that the crane was about to leave Finland. And rightly so, not long after the device reported that the crane was aboard a ferry bound for Estonia. We then made a call to the Estonian police and informed them about the situation, Kaukolampi says.?

A while after we got confirmation that the crane had reached the port in Estonia. The device was?set to tracking mode which gives us the?whereabouts of the tracking device more frequently.?

Managed to cut the GPS

-?The search team see that the crane, still?loaded onto the machinery trailer, has left the ferry terminal and now travel at a much quicker speed.?

Suddenly, the crane stops.?

?The thieves is veering off the highway and into an industrial area. Then, out of nowhere, the signals are cut, and the device disappears?from the screens at the alarm center at GSGroup.?

-?It turns out the thieves feared they were being tracked and stopped to search for devices mounted on the crane. When they found it, they cut the GPS antenna. When someone cuts the GPS, it does not exactly make our job easier, but we are not incapacitated either, as the thieves had thought, Kaukolampi says.?

GSGroup has previously written several articles on how the use of three different radio technologies gives them an edge in the fight against crime. Now, it was precisely these technologies, combined with internal expertise, that were put into action. ?

- It is a subdued and tense atmosphere whenever a search operation is on-going. Everyone knows what is at stake, and everyone is working towards the same goal: recovering a stolen object. This time: a telescopic crane worth over 100 000 euro.?

Collaboration between GSGroup and the Estonian police proves vital. ?

We managed to get some data from our tracking unit, despite the fact that the GPS-antenna has been cut. We provide the Estonian police with this information, and they manage to find and seize the crane before returning it to its rightful owner.?

- We are pleased that our technology once again played a role in recovering stolen items and returning them to their rightful owners. We would like to thank the Estonian police for their efficient collaboration. Cross-border cooperation is key to combating this form of crime, says Kaukolampi.?

How Fleet Management and Travel Logs Drive Efficiency and Sustainability

In today's competitive business environment, fleet management and travel logs are crucial in improving operational efficiency and sustainability. These systems provide comprehensive insights and enable companies to make well-informed decisions about optimizing and reducing vehicle fleets.

The fleet management system is designed to monitor and maintain fleet operations, focusing on vehicle management, driver safety, fuel consumption, and service optimization. By offering a complete overview of all activity and access to real-time insights, these systems help companies identify areas with potential improvement.

Travel logs document every vehicle fleet's journey, including driven routes, stops, and idling. This data is crucial for understanding the fleet's usage patterns and identifying opportunities to reduce the number of vehicles without compromising service levels. Fleet management offers route planning opportunities that consider variables such as traffic, distance, and delivery/pick-up requirements to enhance efficiency and reduce fleet size.

Furthermore, integrating fleet management and travel logs can significantly reduce unused work hours and increase productivity. By analyzing driving log data, companies can avoid common operational pitfalls and streamline their vehicle operations, leading to significant cost savings and environmental benefits.

In summary, strategic use of fleet management and travel logs provides companies with the necessary insights to optimize their vehicle fleet, improve efficiency, and achieve greater sustainability. By leveraging these technologies, companies can ensure they use their vehicles effectively, reduce the number of vehicles required, and positively impact both the bottom line and the environment.