Every year, the CV Show focuses attention on the health of the sector and this year, it is well on course to be the biggest, busiest and most valuable for years.
Running from Tuesday 29 April to Thursday 1 May at the NEC in Birmingham, the Show will give thousands of visitors access to more than 400 exhibitors.
Whether you’re looking for new vehicles, parts, telematics or business support, you and your business can’t afford not to be there, particularly when tickets to the event are completely free.
Transport News Brief will, of course, be covering the event in depth, but here’s some of what’s going to be happening at the Show to whet your appetite.
Volvo fans will be pleased to hear that a new FH will be on display on Air1’s stand despite the manufacturer skipping this year’s Show – it went very big in 2013. It’s being used to attract attention for, and power, Air1’s air-powered pump for AdBlue stored away from electrical supplies.
Alpine’s satnav mapping stores vehicle weights and dimensions so you’re not directed under a low railway bridge, while there are larger-screened monitors and digital radio to treat drivers.
Alpine also joins the throng offering cameras front, side and rear to help prevent accidents and record issues to help with insurance claims if something does go wrong.
AmeriCam is a new player in the camera market and could have an app ready in time for the CV Show that fleet managers could use to watch live progress of any AmeriCam equipped vehicles out on the road.
Axle Weight Technology, or Axtec, has gone wireless with its new, faster weighing system. Not having to dig up a yard makes installation of the VOSA-used system far more affordable, but the company says existing systems can be upgraded and reckons return on investment is very quick in any case.
It found one operator under-loading by up to 30% and also knows of others turning a profit offering a weigh where a VOSA station is too far away.
The focus on the Bridgestone stand isn’t on tyres but the Total Tyre Care package bringing tyre life, services and systems together to give operators better control over costs.
C-KO has a full gamut of cameras and sensors on offer for light and heavy applications, but reckons real growth in this sector is with vans. At the CV Show for the fourth year in 2014, C-KO is also showing its Smart-Lock, a self-powered slam lock that uses RFID to record all locking and unlocking events.
As well as unveiling its new Relay at the CV Show, Citroen is also pulling the wraps from its new head of Commercial Vehicles and Business Sector Operations. The energetic Jeremy Smith has bags of experience having worked in a variety of roles for Citroen over the past 21 years, and takes over from Scott Michael who is leaving to join Motability as Conversions and Adaptations Relationship Manager.
There will be a new camera system on display at the Continental Automotive stand. The ProVio ASL 360 Surround View system will be featured alongside an updated generation of tachographs, with built-in GPS capabilities.
Fuel-efficient tyres, meanwhile, are the main draw to Continental Tyres. The CV Show will play host to the launch of the ContiEcoPlus HT3 trailer tyre which claims to reduce rolling resistance by up to 26% over its predecessor.
Eberspächer has a neat, removable refrigeration unit designed to slot into a compact van to unveil at the Show. Called the Euroengel F0720, the unit is particularly well-suited to food or pharmaceutical deliveries and comes with a two-year warranty. There’s a new Handiwash unit on display, too, and the fearsome Foxhound military vehicle that the company provides the climate control system for.
Visitors to Ford will get the opportunity to experience the latest four additions to the Transit family. Part of a product offensive that will see Ford launch six models in 24 months, the standard Transit, as well as Courier, Connect, and Custom variants will all be displayed.
Van Excellence, Vehicle Inspection Services, conferences and more, the Freight Transport Association is using the CV Show to cement the value for money that it offers existing and prospective members. The FTA celebrates 125 years of supporting the freight and logistics sector this year.
Besides one of its own 3,200 gallon sludge tankers, Fuller Tankers will also have a 37,500 litre ADR tanker from Van Hool on its stand. The two companies met at the CV Show in 2013 and now, a year down the line, Fuller Tankers has been made the UK distributor for the Dutch builder.
The 2014 CV show will be the first opportunity for many visitors to see the new Goodyear range. With operators looking to save costs from their businesses, there will be a focus on the efficient Fuelmax products.
Visit the Grayson stand to hear about news of expansion in Europe and see new radiators for MAN, Renault and Ivecos trucks.
Consider, too, the client list for Isotrack if you’re in the market for a telematics provider. It’s chosen by Asda, DHL, Eddie Stobart, Morrisons, Sainsbury, Tesco and Wincanton, to name a few.
LED lighting company Labcraft will reveal details of a 10-year warranty to be introduced across its entire product range while the Novalux LED light, designed for the van market, will also be launched.
Maple Fleet Services says 70% of the drivers it surveyed had either experienced a runaway trailer in the yard or seen a near miss. On Monday 3 March it will launch a safe-coupling campaign at trailersafetyrevolution.co.uk to support its new SafeConnect device, which interrupts air flow between tractor and trailer until the driver depresses the foot brake and is in full control.
As well as the latest trucks and vans, the Mercedes-Benz stand will have demonstrations of the benefits of its Fleetboard system. Staff will also be available to talk Driver CPC, and an Actros used for driver training will also be under the lights.
Millers Oil will be offering visitors 100 litres of oil free when they purchase 1,000 litres. The oils help reduce emissions and boost fuel economy through less friction and wear.
MIRA staff will be on hand to offer advice and explain the services it offers in relation to homologation and Whole Vehicle Type Approval, ahead of the introduction of new legislation in October.
MiX Telematics will be launching its latest vehicle tracking system, DataTrak. Using the latest track and trace technologies. It allows fleet managers to monitor vehicles remotely via computer, smartphone or tablet.
Birmingham will see the launch of i2i (issue to invoice) from r2c. i2i is designed to improve efficiency and give users more control over their service, maintenance and repair operations.
The RAC will introduce its Truck Rescue and Repair service at the CV Show. Each vehicle requires its own policy, under which operators will be entitled to a maximum of four callouts a year.
After an absence of five years, Renault Trucks returns to the CV Show with its range of Euro 6-compliant vehicles designed for long haul, construction and distribution. Display vehicles include two Range T tractors, 12-tonne and 26-tonne distribution chassis and an 8×4 construction chassis.
The Road Haulage Association will be advising show visitors on how to be profitable and compliant. Attractions include a new RHA Shop catalogue and a new system to aid analogue and digital tachograph analysis.
Visitors to the Smart Witness stand will have the opportunity to find out more about Video Journey Recorders, which protect against false insurance claims and eliminate blind spots.
CV Show exhibitors could benefit from targeted buyer/supplier matchmaking services, market analysis, Type Approval guidance and the ability to influence major policy decisions that SMMT membership can offer. Companies interested in finding out more should request a chat with the trade body’s experts by e-mailing cvshow@smmt.co.uk.
Innovative trailer technology will be found at the SOMI stand. The trailer design enables the area between the rear wheels and front legs to be utilised, giving operators 31% more payload.
Racking specialists Tevo continues to roll-out ultra-high-strength steel construction to its range with the material now covering 80% of products and saving between 20 and 30% on weight. Added to the range are a safe, gas bottle holder and new storage options for cables and hoses.
TomTom is aiming to give operators even more power to develop useful apps for its navigation software and devices. Its latest Bridge seven-inch tablet can integrate sector-developed programmes that, for instance, can immediately transmit information on waste bin contents and weight to fleet managers. A consumer version of the device should be on hand at the CV Show ahead of a business-targeted iteration due mid-year.
Aftermarket supplier TTC will be exhibiting its range of products in Birmingham, covering a variety of components – such as brakes, lights and suspension parts for LCV and HGV applications, while Valeo is also shouting about the ‘hugely expanded’ range of parts that it has on offer.
Now you’ve got a flavour for the Show, register for your free tickets.
