Low Cost Vans

  Renault UK, in collaboration with Screwfix and national newspaper the Daily Star are on the lookout for ‘Britain’s Top Tradesman 2012’. This annual competition seeks to find the most exceptional tradesman. So if you are a plumber, builder, electrician, or handyman with outstanding standards of service and stride for a higher level of customer satisfaction, then you're in with a chance of winning a new Renault van up to the value of £27,000. The winner will be able to choose any one of the vans from the Renault range. How do you get in with a chance of scoring one? All you need to do to enter the contest is to submit an application by October 8th, 2102 at a Screwfix store near you or go to Screwfix online  here . Then selected regional finalists will go head-to-head. The grand finale to determine ' Britain’s Top Tradesman 2012' will be held in November, at a yet to be confirmed location. It's great to see Renault and Screwfix recognise the hard work and dedication of U...

The Essential Tips and Handy Advice page published for today centres on safe Manual Handling. Incorrectly  handling and manoeuvring items can lead to injuries, so ensure that you are physically lifting and loading/unloading properly. If necessary, make use of lifting aids such as trolleys, lift trucks, hoists and roll cages. Keep in mind that the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 - Regulation 5 (Employees Duties) states that it is "the duty of the employee to make full and proper use of all equipment or systems provided by the employer." According to HSE (Health and Safety Executive) records, over 30% of all work accidents involve manual handling issues, with an estimated 300,000 people each year suffering the agonies of back pain. The advice page contains advice and a simple diagram explaining how to use safe manual handling techniques. View the Manual Handling advice page here .

Cannonball Car Rally 2000 is being billed as the "ultimate lifestyle event" covering over 2000 miles and is named partially  after the legendary film Cannonball Run starring Burt Reynolds. This thrilling road trip leaves London at 2:30pm on Wednesday 5 th September 2012 from the prestigious Hilton, Park Lane, London and takes place over five days moving onto Barcelona, Monte Carlo, Milan and culminating in Paris. A portion of Cannonball 2000’s fees will go directly to Dreams Come True, a charity which helps children from 2 to 21 with life threatening and long-term illness by providing each child with an unforgettable experience creating wonderful memories to share with loved ones and friends. With fifty plus participants and entry fees costing £5, 500 for one car with 2 people sharing, this event will certainly raise a good amount for the charity. The fee will cover stays at Luxury hotels, evening meals and parties at the best bars/clubs, overnight ferry with private cabin t...

The most recently talked about news in motoring surrounds the new London Taxi cabs built by Nissan. In a recent press release Nissan introduced a new Nissan NV200 version for London Taxi's based on the  multi-purpose NV200 compact van. The all-electric e-NV200 London Taxi prototype is to be tested in 2013 and is reportedly backed by Mayor, Boris Johnson. Tokyo has already seen the Nissan NV200 Taxi versions and in America, it has been chosen as the exclusive New York City ‘Taxi of tomorrow’. Nissan claim that they will be more affordable, have more comfort, space and convenience,  and can offer a 50% increase in fuel efficiency. Steve McNamara, General Secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association, said: “Nissan already has a great footing in the London taxi market – the 2.7-litre diesel that featured in some of the early taxis was one of the greatest engines ever put in a cab. From what I've seen of the 200 London Taxi, it ticks all the right boxes. It’s important that i...

It was a great month for new car sales in July, as announced by the SMMT (Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders) this week. New car registrations rose 9.3% to 143,884 units and new Van registration also rose up 10.2% to 18,913 units in July, while commercial vehicles were up 8.1% to 22,353 registrations. "New car registrations rose 9.3% in July, continuing the upward trend seen during recent months. SMMT’s full year forecast is for 1.97 million cars to be registered during 2012 suggesting a slight slowing of demand in the second half of the year," said Paul Everitt, SMMT Chief Executive. "International economic stability remains a concern for vehicle manufacturers and the UK market, but intense competition and new fuel efficient products are creating great opportunities for motorists." According to the latest SMMT figures, the Best sellers in the month of July mirrored the year to date figures as the Ford Fiesta (#1) and the Vauxhall Corsa (#2) remain the top 2...

Fiat Professional has just announced the special series Ducato Tecnico van. It's a new version based on the Ducato 30 Van 2.3 Litre 130 MultiJet II SWB (L1H1). The standard model will include air conditioning, front fog lights, Blue&Me with steering wheel controls, TomTom predisposition on the dashboard, B&M TomTom Live navigator plus cradle, Start&Stop, special wheel trims, reverse parking sensors and eco: Drive Professional software. Promotional prices for the Ducato Tecnico are: Ducato VAN 30 L1H1 130 MultiJet II Tecnico - £13,995.00 OTR excluding VAT and Ducato VAN 35 L3H2 130 MultiJet II Tecnico - £16,995.00 OTR excluding VAT. Also announced was the Doblò Cargo Tecnico version being made available for the first time. The Doblò Cargo Tecnico versions are based on the SX version with additional standard equipment that includes air conditioning, Blue&Me with steering wheel controls, TomTom predisposition on the dashboard, B&M TomTom Live navigator plus cradle,...

Today's tip is about the Do's and Don'ts of safe and legal loading and unloading of your van, as well as proper use of a trolley. Loading and unloading can be dangerous so be aware of who and what may be in the area around your van. Loads should be spread as evenly as possible, during both loading and unloading, as uneven loads can make your vehicle or trailer unstable. If your load is heavy or awkward to unload, ask for assistance if available and make sure loads have not shifted during transit, and are not likely to move or fall when doors are opened.  To view the Essential Tips and Handy Advice page on this topic, please click here .