Rental roadshow sets out to raise awareness on digital tachographs and Euro 4

5 January 2007

Fraikin has kicked off 2007 with a three month nationwide roadshow to raise awareness amongst customers and staff of the impact of digital tachographs and Euro 4 in the contract hire and rental market.

The roadshow is primarily designed to help customers prepare for the new legislation by ensuring their drivers are in possession of a ‘driver card’ and know how to operate a digital tachograph.  The roadshow will also explain the principals behind Euro 4 and how to top-up an AdBlue tank.

The event is expected to last until March 2007 and will see the first Euro 4 rental vehicle to arrive on the Fraikin fleet – a 7.5 tonne Iveco Eurocargo – travel over 2,000 miles whilst visiting the company’s 22 sites and over 30 major customers.

Mark Newnes, Operations Director – Branch Network, explains: “Despite the best efforts of the industry and the media to raise awareness of digital tachographs and Euro 4 there is still a massive proportion of customers which are not fully prepared.  The vast majority of operators still have fleets fitted entirely with analogue tachos and simply haven’t thought through the consequences if they need to rent vehicles.”

The roadshow is taking place in support of Fraikin’s largest ever rental fleet order, costing £12.5 million, which will see 327 new commercial vehicles (with SCR technology) delivered into the 1,429-strong fleet during the first quarter of the year.

To help operators get accustomed to new technology and legislation, Fraikin has produced a series of ‘What you need to know’ booklets covering major industry issues including digital tachographs and Euro 4.  Digital copies can be downloaded from the Fraikin website (www.fraikin.co.uk), together with guides on other topics including working time regulations, road speed limiters and compulsory driver training.