The aim of Dr Milford’s study is to challenge the position of the ever-present ‘Sat Nav’ by developing a technology that in time will make the ‘Sat Nav’ GPS units appear outdated. The project is ambitious given the recent developments in satellite technology however a number of fundamental weaknesses have been identified with the GPS systems. GPS systems rely on a totally reliable network space based hardware which is extremely vulnerable to any major disturbances such as increased solar activity.

Dr Milford’s research is studying a completely new field built upon visual navigation algorithms, named SeqSLAM standing for Sequence Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping, using local best match and sequence recognition components to lock in locations. GPS systems use three satellite signals as a minimum to create an exact position whereas the new research seeks to use low resolution cameras which ‘study’ their surroundings and recognise where they are.

Technology such as Google Street View has been at the forefront of such developments in satellite technology. Dr Milford’s research has been funded for three years by a grant of $375,000 (Australian) from the Australian Research Council.

He said, “My core background is based on how small mammals manage incredible feats of navigation despite their eyesight being quite poor. As we develop more and more sophisticated navigation systems they depend on more and more maths and more powerful computers. At the moment you need three satellites in order to get a decent GPS signal and even then it can take a minute or more to get a lock on your location. There are some places geographically, where you just can’t get satellite signals and even in big cities we have issues with signals being scrambled because of tall buildings or losing them altogether in tunnels.

“But no one’s actually stepped back and thought ‘do we actually need all this stuff or can we use a very simple set of algorithms which don’t require expensive cameras or satellites or big computers to achieve the same outcome?’ For example if I am in a kitchen in an office block, the algorithm makes the assumption I’m in the office block, looks around and identifies signs that match a kitchen. Then if I stepped out into the corridor it would test to see if the corridor matches the corridor in the existing data of the office block lay out.

“If you keep moving around and repeat the sequence for long enough you are able to uniquely identify where in the world you are using those images and simple mathematical algorithms.”

OSE adopt a number of cutting edge technology solutions in all transport operations. Find out more here.

The seven new vans eligible for the subsidy are The Azure Dynamic Ford Transit Connect, Faam Jolly 2000, Faam Ecomile, Mercedes-Benz Vito E-Cell, Mia-electric Mia U, Smith Electric Edison and, the current International Van of the Year, the Renault Kangoo ZE.

An extension of the plug-in grant for passenger cars and each of the eligible vans will receive a price reduction of up to £8,000, while businesses will be able to reclaim the full list price VAT on top.

In order to meet the necessary requirements for the subsidy, each of the vans named as part of the Plug-in Van Grant incentive must emit less than 75g/km CO2, meet EU safety standards, be capable of travelling a minimum of 60 miles between charges and have a top speed of at least 50mph.

Justine Green, Transport Secretary, who was responsible for the launch of the scheme at County Hall in London, said,

“The new Plug-in Van Grant – offering up to £8,000 off one of these seven innovative vans –makes business sense as it’s been estimated that a small electric van will typically cost £100 less in fuel for every thousand miles driven compared to a diesel equivalent.”

Support for the scheme has already come from British Gas and BT, who have signalled their intent to add a number of electric vans to their fleet however it is still unclear how the scheme will be adopted by the haulage industry.

Gearoid Lane, MD of British Gas New Markets, said,

“Extending electric car grants to cover fleet vehicles is a positive step in lowering emissions on our roads. We are keen to include electric vans in our own fleet, with 100s scheduled to be introduced over the next few years. We are also at the forefront of helping people with their own electric cars by installing charge points in homes up and down Britain.”

On the negative side, electric vans can be double the price of a diesel equivalent. This is mainly down to the cost of the battery. The battery provides another problem in that when it reaches the end of its life after say seven years, or 100,000 miles, it needs to be replaced which can cost thousands, maybe tens of thousands of pounds.

On the positive side, electric vans don’t need as much servicing because they have fewer moving parts. There are the tax breaks, and the cost per mile of electricity is substantially less than diesel.

Hydrogen, bio-fuels, electric – all have their pros and cons and it is far too soon to say which will dominate our roads in the future, or indeed, if something else will come along in the meantime.

2011 was being hailed as the year of the electric car, however this did not happen.

This subsidy will give the market a big boost for 2012.

OSE adhere to a strict fleet policy. Find out more here.

The bid, which was made on 17^th February, was rejected by TNT as it is believed they are seeking a bid higher than the current 9 euros per share. The bid made represented a 42% premium on the stock’s closing price in Amsterdam on 17^th February.

There are also a number of other concerns surrounding the takeover. TNT’s board are said to be unhappy with conditions attached to the current offer that may require divestitures to win regulatory approval and possibly lead to job cuts.

TNT Express, the Dutch company is focusing its concentration on talks with Atlanta based UPS because rival Fed Ex. Corp has shown little interest in the bidding so far.

Damian Brewer, a London-based RBC Capital Markets analyst said,

“The key for them is to ensure that UPS doesn’t walk away with the company at 9 euros per share, but actually shares some of the future synergies with shareholders.”

Today, TNT’s share price surged to 9.95 euros and traded at 9.89 euros at 9.10am in Amsterdam trading. This showed an 11% increase in value from Friday’s 9 euros offer. Over the last year shares have advanced by 71% giving the Express Transport Company a value of 5.36 billion euros.

Since 2006, TNT Express’s profit margins have more than halved. However, James Rasteh, president of New York based White Eagle Partners LLC who hold a stake of less than 1% in TNT, is confident that TNT can get back to their previous margins.

He said, “Investors need to see evidence that the company is able to get back to its historical margins. This lack of faith is creating a remarkable opportunity for UPS.”

A bid from UPS, which is already the world’s largest package-delivery company, or its main competitor, FedEx, has been speculated about for years as the U.S. companies study European expansion.

“They have a very strong balance sheet; they could easily take over TNT at an even higher price,” Amsterdam-based ABN Amro analyst Maarten Bakker said of UPS. “Road operations and depots would probably have to divest in Benelux and the U.K.”

UPS completed the purchase last week of Brussels-based delivery firm Kiala to bolster operations in Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Spain and Luxembourg, and the company has made several smaller takeovers in recent years.

Overlapping operations, particularly in Europe, could produce synergies for UPS in excess of 400 million euros, Amsterdam-based Kepler markets analyst Andre Mulder.

Mulder recommends buying TNT shares and believes a“good price” would be 11 euros.

TNT “needs to be bought, pure and simple,” said Cathy Roberson, an Atlanta-based logistics analyst for Transport Intelligence. “From a global perspective I don’t see how they can continue alone as things currently stand.”

OSE specialise in UK and European Express transport services and can collect and deliver anywhere in Europe in as little as 12 hours. For more information visit our services page here.

Northern Ireland’s Minister for Finance, Sammy Wilson, announced a £600 million package of infrastructure improvements. Over half the funds will go towards upgrading two sections of the A5 between Londonderry and Strabane, as well as Ballygawley and Omagh. In addition, £57 million will be invested on improvements to the A2 Belfast to Carrickfergus route and £105 million on the infamous 14km stretch of single carriageway section of the A8 between the Port of Larne and Belfast. After many years of campaigns by lobbyists, this stretch of road will now become a dual carriageway.

Improvements to road infrastructure will ease traffic and congestion as well as providing safer driving conditions on stretches of road which have witnessed many serious accidents over the years including numerous fatalities. Reductions in traffic and congestion and improvements in driving conditions will create more reliable delivery timescales for road haulage organisations, particularly those providing dedicated express services.

FTA’s Head of Policy for Northern Ireland, Tom Wilson, said,

“The A8 is a strategically significant trade route, but one which has lacked capacity to cope with the sheer volume of lorries that rely on this route to reach Larne Port. It is an absolutely essential link in our supply chain between businesses on the island of Ireland and large freight hubs in northern England and Scotland. This funding will go a long way to improve Ireland’s connectivity and finally make the A8 fit for purpose. Typically, slower-moving agricultural vehicles do cause long tailbacks on this road and motorists do take risks when overtaking tractors, combine harvesters and the like, dualling will reduce instances of risky overtaking.

“Investment in infrastructure brings with it great returns on investment, and the Northern Ireland Assembly’s decision to focus most of its spend on two vital trade corridors will pay dividends. Better roads and infrastructure will not only encourage investment from overseas and overall connectivity, but mean lower fuel costs and more reliable journey times, giving hauliers, local businesses and motorists alike a welcome boost.”

In addition, the news from the Scottish Government’s decision to provide an additional £4.5 million in funding for the Freight Facilities Grant has been met with praise. The grant is open to applications for funding of rail and water facilities in Scotland meeting specific criteria.

Chris MacRae, FTA’s Head of Policy in Scotland, said,

“This additional announcement of funding is good news. This is especially so at a time of recession and it should be remembered that in England the equivalent grant has been completely ended. This grant is essential to helping achieve the Scottish Government’s challenging carbon reduction targets: switching freight movement to rail or water is an essential element of this and these grants help this, in addition to the separate revenue support grant regime.”

The report statistics recorded by the Malaysian – German Chamber of Commerce and Industry ( MGCC).

The Executive director of the Commerce, Alexander Stedtfeld said;

‘Electrical and Electronics goods, Machinery, Chemical and auto-parts would remain the main goods for trade expansion between the two countries’.

Adding;

‘ Trade between Malaysia and Germany appreciated to 12.0 billion euros from RM 10.0 billion euros previously’.

In 2011 the export market from Malaysia to Germany was around 6.6 billion euros, while exporting from Germany to Malaysia was 5.5 billion euros. Stedtfeld also added that the market would be stable and that he didn’t expect to see any special dangers in Europe.

Noting that the Euro zone crisis and an investor shift to China had very little impact on trade between the two countries, investments however by both Malaysia and Germany were still low and it was important to look at increasing financial injection.

The latest investment into Malaysia has been by the German based specialist chemical producer with a figure of 15 million being reported.

Asia is looking to gain greater exposure within European markets and whilst Stedtfeld added Malaysia’s industries were advancing it was quicker to access Europe through nurturing skills within those markets and focusing upon innovation.

Germany has been seen as the platform to enter European markets with a great example of this being the KNM group who previously invested 350 million euros into a German engineering country, the recognition of this move was seen throughout Europe with KNM group now achieving greater outcomes in their business ventures across European continents.

There is a large concentration of pharmaceutical and life science companies based in the Basel are of Switzerland such as Roche and Novartis.

EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg is an international airport located 6km northwest of Basel in Switzerland, 22km southeast of Mulhouse in France, and 70km south of Freiburg in Germany. It is located in France, on the administrative territory of the commune of Saint-Louis near the German and Swiss borders. In 2011, EuroAirport handled over 5 million passengers and 104,000 of freight.

Due to its unusual international status, EuroAirport has three IATA airport codes, BSL (Basel) is the Swiss code, MLH (Mulhouse) is the French code and EAP (EuroAirport) is the international code. The ICAO airport code is LFSB. The Geneva International Airport has a similar international status.

The construction of the new terminal at EuroAirport is due to begin this summer. The completion date has been targeted as December 2013. The construction and operating of the new airport terminal will create approximately 200 new jobs.

The construction of the new terminal will replace the existing equivalent facility which is only around 15,000sq metres. The current facility will undergo a €3 million renovation to act as a hub for express transport traffic.

A spokesperson for EuroAirport said, “Around half of the space will be dedicated to temperature-controlled storage, crucial to pharmaceutical products.”

The spokesperson added, “At the moment, express operators based here, such as TNT, UPS, DHL and FedEx, are housed in different facilities about the airport, and the plan is to locate them under one roof.”

EuroAirport recovered spectacularly in 2010 after the recession had reduced traffic levels. However last year, freight traffic was down by 4% last year at 104,000 tonnes.

However, there were a number of contributors to the reduction in freight traffic. Firstly, the strength of the Swiss franc had a negative impact on exports. Secondly, the airport’s main runway was closed for two months for re-surfacing.

Two-thirds of all traffic through EuroAirport from a number of industries including pharmaceuticals, automotive and chemical, oil and gas is of Swiss origin.

The Greenhouse gas emissions report is produced every year, under the EU’s carbon scheme for the aviation sector.

The plan has been detailed in a set of two EU regulation drafts on the verification of greenhouse gases. Biofuels have long been debated for their use as there is concern they could potentially harm the environment.

The draft compromises of information that gives European Industries details on how reporting should be handled when documenting greenhouse gas emissions which is covered by the EU’s flagship emissions trading scheme for greenhouse gases.

The draft expects Airlines to list the amount of biomass used as fuel, and this should be broken down on a yearly basis. The Biofuel report should be included within the annual emission report.

The EU member states are still in discussions for approving the plans and will need to be passed by European parliament before they become law.

A European Commission spokesperson for climate change issues said,

‘Under the EU ETS we provide a financial incentive for the use of Biofuels in aviation, as use of Biofuels has a zero-emissions factor, which means that no allowances need to be surrendered,” Ladron told EurActiv in e-mailed comments’.

Adding,

‘This means the Biofuels have a subsidy equivalent to the prevailing carbon price,” he explained, describing the scheme as “a cost-effective incentive as the subsidy for biofuels is equivalent to the cost of reducing emissions in other sectors’.

As part of the Carbon reduction pledge, which aims for major reduction by 2020 many airlines see Biofuels as a crucial part of their commitment to achieving ‘carbon- neutral growth’.  The International transport association set targets to increase the usage of Biofuels by 10% by the year 2017.

The President of Airplane maker, Boeing said in a recent interview,

‘Without Biofuels we cannot get there, it is a vital contribution’.

One of the greatest aspects and challenges to providing Biofuels for the Airline Industry is to ensure mass production can sustainably be provided.

According to one expert speaking on the subject,

‘Sustainable biofuels are fuels which achieve higher greenhouse gas savings compared to the average fossil fuel, and are not be cultivated on the land with high biodiversity value or on the peatland which has a high carbon stock’.

Green Activists have been long campaigning against the use of certain Biofuel productions due to some sources having a counterproductive reaction to their original use through culviation of natural forests for example would produce more carbon then the Biofuels could decrease by percentage.

Dudley Curtis, from Transport & Environment, a green NGO explained,

‘It’s good that the sustainability criteria have been extended to cover the ETS, but as long as ILUC is not included there is no guarantee of actual emissions reductions’.

Issac Lardon, spokesperson for the European Commission added that the EU noted that this area would be tackled in respect to concerns.

The main objective of the report was to see how Logistics companies can actively involve the ‘people, planet and profit’ concept into their day to day activities.

The Port of Antwerp hopes to establish itself as a leading provider in sustainable transport solutions, whilst older policies looked to fortifying the Ports effort on economic development. In 2012 efforts are made to improve and manage the social concerns that impact the ports activities, namely environmental management.

Environmental management will be one of the main areas of focus throughout the policy documentation, including stakeholder management. The Port of Antwerp has a distinct advantage for import and export activities, with its geographical location set inland the environmental concerns of transport are lowered whilst also reducing costs.

There are nine main stages of the environmental policy;

• The Port of Antwerp as a gateway to Europe.  Antwerp has many benefits such as being one of the safest ports in Europe which also allows vessels to dispose of waste free of charge or for a small fee setting the standards for ports across Europe.
• Engaging in Employment activity, the port provides work for 145,000 people either directly or indirectly with 7% coming from the Flanders region.
• Investing in Infrastructure to maintain its stance as a leading provider in Port activity across Europe, research and development is also heavily exercised.
• Increasing Labour productivity, the port of Antwerp can boast a 50% above average in production capacity by its workforce.
• Encouraging Environmental growth, with such a large area of business activity the port 5% of the actual port area will be dedicated to  nurturing that habitation of plant and animal species natural to ports and harbors, nature conservation is set to grow.
• A port for both Industry and Logistics, energy consumption rose by around 16% between 2000 and 2008. The biggest consumer of energy was the chemical and refining industries due to higher production.  The preferred method at the Port of Antwerp is to utilize water activity from the River Sheldt rather than consuming valuable groundwater on mass.
• Creating a harmonious environment between nature and the environment, the logistical nature of economic and business activity than proceeds creates a high influx of emissions including gases such as nitrous oxide.  Goals were put into place in 2008 in a bid to lower gas emissions; a clear and systematic improvement has been measured.
• Pipeline Hubs being favored as environmentally friendly modes instead of typical Road transport, which now accounts for less than 50% of freight movements except in the case of containers.  Many large containers are also now transported by Barge facilities.
• Increasing Sustainable environment for transporting workers in their commuting activities.

This report was created in line with the ‘total plan for a more competitive port’ and in response to the global financial crisis.

Partners involved in the Port of Antwerp were aware that competitive advantage could be sort through better practices of sustainability for current and future practices. Sustainability of the Port of Antwerp however is an ongoing, continuous process all areas cannot be overlooked.

The show features women who work directly in the transport and logistics industries, driving the trucks that get our deliveries from A to B.

Describing the programme, Channel four states;

‘MotherTruckers reveals the lifestyles of an unusual band of ladies rising to the challenge of being truck drivers, while fighting to keep a stable family environment, as mothers, daughters, wives and girlfriends’.

Only 2% of truckers in the UK are women.

What is refreshing about the show is that is delves into the lives of the female truckers, for too long women driving trucks have been stereotyped into a certain category as either homosexual or ‘rough’. The first episode looks at one woman, Emma, who dreamed of success as a ballet dancer, working hard to achieve this dream; her hopes were slashed with an injury. Trucking was then the second choice of career path offering a new chance and career development.

The Transport industry is currently experiencing a shortage of qualified drivers; young men are not as keen to take on trucking as career path meaning women are stepping into the shoes of drivers retiring from the industry.

The show also details the life of Wendy, who trains and mentors women embarking on the world of trucking explains her passion and reason for supporting females within the transport world.

The UK transport is changing and companies need to be completely open to taking on drivers via their skill set rather than gender, OSE are an equal opportunities employer and gladly welcome of all genders, for more information or job opportunities please email sales@oseeuro.com

French officials are worried about the increasing number of lorry drivers being caught watching DVDs behind the wheel and the danger of accident this causes. In 2010, 324 drivers were caught watching a film whilst driving in France. In response they have increased the fine for being caught watching a DVD whilst driving from €135 to €1500 (approximately £111 to £1237).

Other bizarre cases of drivers not paying full attention to the roads whilst driving included a driver who was found to be practicing the drums and other drivers who have been seen cooking on portable stoves.

The problem is not only common in France. According to British drivers it is increasingly happening in the UK too.

Andy Hartwell, a truck driver from Bury St Edmunds described the cab of a lorry and did not excuse the behavior of a lot of drivers he has seen on the road.

^“Bear in mind this is where you live as well as work. I saw one trucker come past me and he was watching a film on a laptop. I’ve seen drivers reading a book resting on the steering wheel.”

Simon Matthews, from Taunton, who has been driving trucks for 12 years, said,

“I saw it a couple of weeks ago, I think I was on the M25. I was in the first lane and a driver came past me in the second lane. I could see straight into his cab. He had his hands on the wheel, but the laptop was in front of his steering wheel and it wasn’t small either – it must have been a 16in screen. I haven’t seen that when it’s directly in front of the driver before, but I’ve seen many where they’ve got a screen on the dashboard angled towards the driver.”

He also gave his reasons as to why he believes that problem is becoming more common.

“Technology, laptops and portable DVD players are cheap. He has also seen drivers heating up food on small portable stoves by their seats “and then eating out the saucepan as they’re driving along”.

Another driver, Michael Stopps from Milton Keynes added that he has also seen other truck drivers driving along the M1 whilst watching a DVD and has heard of other incidents involving drivers cooking, preparing food or getting changed behind the wheel.

“They’re all over the road a lot of the time. I went past one driver at 7am and he’s taking half of the hard shoulder up, half in the slow lane and he’s pouring a bowl of cornflakes and getting the milk out, you have to wonder what these drivers are thinking.”

It is unclear whether similar action will be taken in the UK as in France with in an increase in fine for offending drivers.