Commercial Van Solutions

We all need a flexible workforce, especially in a small business. That can mean turning your hand to new things – such as driving a van. But driving a van requires different skills from driving a car. So what’s the best advice for a first time van driver? How do you ensure a car driver will be safe and confident driving a van? As an employer or manager, you must make sure that anyone who drives a van on company business is up to the job and knows what to do. It’s also your duty of care . You owe it to them, yourself and other road users. But it also makes sound business sense. You want your drivers to get the job done efficiently – without pranging the van, guzzling lots of diesel or hacking off other motorists in a vehicle emblazoned with your logo. Dr Will Murray is research director at Interactive Driving Systems, which specialises in providing risk management solutions to fleets. He has seen an increase in the number of employees needing to trade up from driv...

In recent years, there has been an increase in the use of fleet management technology, allowing drivers and fleet managers alike to access a significant amount of smart data with regard to vehicle and driver performance. Features include fuel efficiency information, driver performance insights and real-time tracking via GPS, all of which help effortlessly manage the end-to-end performance of van or truck fleet. Fleet Trak, an award-winning TomTom telematics reseller based in the UK, discusses how fleet managers can make use of this sophisticated modern technology to help improve the performance of their fleet across multiple core areas. Improving driver standards while lowering risk Anytime a van fleet driver gets into an accident while on the road, such as a collision with another vehicle or an object, this will take both staff and time out of normal operation. However, with the latest fleet technology in place, including vehicle cameras and tracking systems, f...

Work continues on America's favorite truck.  After the first spy photos of the new Ford F-150 from May this year, followed by new shots and a video a few months later, we haven’t had any chances of seeing the development progress of the truck. However, today, thanks to Motor1.com reader Devin, we have two new photos of a camouflaged F-150 prototype. And while they don’t reveal much, at least we can see the pickup is moving on plan with its development. It is obvious once again that the design of America’s best-selling automotive nameplate won’t take a dramatic turn and will follow the evolutionary approach of its predecessors. These distant shots don’t provide a closer look at the front end but it seems that the fascia is still wearing the fake body panels of the previous test cars spied in May and August. This trial vehicle also rides on a set of larger wheels (presumably 22-inch) ...

Generally speaking, roads in U.S. and Canada are considered safe compared to, say, Southeast Asia. That’s because most drivers know what to do. However, North American roads are plagued by accidents, speeding, and drunk drivers too. Driver discipline, which indicates how good of a driver you are, is crucial to avoiding these common legal problems on the road. When you take your driving lessons, you are given ample lessons on not just how to drive a vehicle, but also how to behave on the road. New drivers learn to follow road signs and respect other drivers on the road. This sound learning theory doesn’t always hold well in public. Even if you are an experienced driver, if you need to look up drinking and driving lawyers online, then something has gone wrong. Being a good driver by becoming more disciplined is just as important as improving your skills as a driver. The two does overlap. Here are several useful tips that would simply make you a better driver less ...

Next year, Ford expects to introduce over-the-air updates for new cars. Software updates are designed to run “in the background” and be seamless. Ford says OTA technology will be more convenient in the long run for owners. Starting next year, Ford will equip most of their newly-redesigned vehicles in the United States to receive, handle, and install over-the-air updates. Sometimes called OTA technology, Ford says it will make it easier for customers to receive necessary quality and capability updates to improve vehicle performance, as well as reduce dealership visits. “Nobody wants to feel like they’re missing out on great features right after spending their hard-earned money on a new vehicle – that’s where our over-the-air updates can help,” explained Don Butler, Executive Director, Connected Vehicle and Services, Ford Motor Company. “We can now help improve your vehicle’s capability, quality, and overall driving experience while you’re sleeping.” When Will For...

Over 3,600 Mack Trucks employees represented by the United Auto Workers (UAW) union went on strike on Sunday to protest treatment they called unfair. It's the first strike against the truck manufacturer since 1984. Mack workers aired a long list of grievances that will sound familiar if you've followed the UAW's bitter, five-week-long strike against General Motors. They're seeking better wages, an improved pension, a more lucrative 401(k) plan, better health coverage, and more job security. Subcontracting, the use of temporary/supplemental employees, overtime, and seniority also appear on their list of unresolved issues with their employer.  Autoblog  reached out to the UAW for more details. Workers feel Mack isn't sharing the fruits of its recent success with those who made it happen. "The last four years, we have helped Mack Truck make significant profit through our work. All we are asking is that the company treat us with the d...

 Last year, Ford made it clear that it was done with conventional car bodystyles and would instead focus on crossovers. But we haven't seen any signs of what would replace its classic sedan nameplates until now. One of our spy photographers caught Ford testing a midsize crossover that looks set to replace the Ford Fusion family sedan. The prototype is clearly early in development and features a crudely stretched Ford Focus body. But it still gives us a good idea of what to expect in the new vehicle. Helpfully, it was being followed by a previous-generation Ford Escape, which shows us that while the overall roofline is still fairly low for a crossover, this prototype sits atop a fairly long wheelbase. In fact, the body size is reminiscent of a Ford Fusion wagon. But unlike a typical wagon, it has an impressive amount of ground clearance. This all leads us to believe that the Fusion's replacement will be something like a Subaru Outback or Audi Allroad. I...