Taxi Driver Regulations Effect From 1st April

Recently there have been a lot of new rules and regulations set up for taxi drivers and taxi companies. While most of them have only been put in place by local councils and not nationally enforced, it can make a huge impact should your company be affected. One such change is the new rules for taxi drivers in Derbyshire.

The Derbyshire District Council has agreed to put in place new requirements for anyone seeking to get a taxi drivers license. These requirements include tests on the Highway Code, local geography and even a written English test. The council says this move is all about increasing standards of local taxi firms. Yet is it just another setback for the taxi companies?

A majority of local firms do agree with the new regulations on drivers, and the council has agreed to mark all vehicles that receive the new license with a council insignia on their doors. This increases local trust in the company, knowing they have passed the regulations. However the council has gone one step further, introducing rules that newly licensed vehicles must be less than three years old.

This is a sensitive issue that some taxi drivers are strongly opposed to, as shown in the recent Newport taxi driver demonstration. Business owners are worried that by being forced to only use new vehicles it means far greater expenditure. Not only will the new vehicles cost more, but their taxi insurance premiums will be higher as a result. These regulations come in to force from the 1st of April.

Used Van Prices Continuing To Rise

With used van prices continuing to rise, the cost of maintaining and running a courier company is not getting any cheaper. As all costs increase, it is becoming difficult for some courier companies to break even each month, let alone make a profit.

This is of course in part due to the current economic crisis caused by the recession. With so many people unable to afford new vehicles, there is a shortage of used models in supply.

Evidently this is also having a major impact on the manufacturers, with so many companies going out of business or seeking major bailouts from the government. Some companies are looking to their work force to keep themselves afloat.

Ford have recently signed an agreement deal with its workers, including freezing their wages, eliminating the cost of living increases they receive as well as paid holidays and bonuses.

This deal was negotiated with the United Auto Workers Union, and is aimed to help Ford be able to keep competitive prices on their vehicles. As such it is not surprising that some of the best selling vehicles are Ford Fiestas vans, Connects and Transits.

Other motor vehicle companies are also now expected to make similar agreements with the UAW in the near future, which should hopefully have an impact in the future.

However with everyone hanging on to their older vehicles longer, this means that the prices of second hand vehicles will continue to remain stable. This has a knock on effect, causing the price of courier insurance on vans to remain the same rather than fall for the foreseeable future.

Shopping Online For Motor Trade Insurance Can save You Money

Shopping online for motor insurance can save you time and money. However, when using the search engines on your pc you have to know or be aware of keywords which will enable the search engines to come up with the best listings.

Spelling errors is a common mistake which ahs of course been used as a successful TV advertising campaign for ComparetheMarket.com where they use a ‘meerkat’ to highlight this common spelling error!

You will also need to narrow your searches to specific details of motor trade insurance you are looking for, such as they type of insurance which include vehicles in different categories.

This may sound all very logical and simple, however, the world of insurance is vast and highly competitive, as such the time you could potentially save actually ends up becoming very frustrating and time consuming.

You could always use an insurance broker who specialises in motor trade insurance and let them carry out the searches on your behalf, but you should be aware that many insurance companies are not affiliated or work in partnership with brokers – these may be the companies offering the most competitive deals. As such it’s a good idea to use a broker as well as carrying out your own researches.

It is also worth realising that cheap does not always mean the best. Many online insurance companies may sound very tempting until you read the small print and see what is actually included on the quote they are providing.

Shopping around for motor trade insurance is an effective way to save money just as long as you are sure what is being offered actually suits your insurance needs!

Cheap Fleet Insurance Deals Online

Fleet insurance is a great way to help reduce insurance premiums. The confusing thing is each insurance company has its own number of vehicles which are required to constitute qualifying for this type of insurance.

Mixed fleet insurance does give you the opportunity to insurance different types of vehicles. Some insurance companies will even include agricultural vehicles which are driven on the public highways.

Anyone who has more then one vehicle should carry out some online searches to find out whether they would qualify, you don’t have to own a business to be able to be accepted. For example insureyourfleet are advertising on the web that their premiums start with as few as two vehicles. They of course ask you to fill in their online quote form or give them a ring, and as with all vehicle insurance nothing can be guaranteed until they are made aware of the types of vehicles, age of drivers etc.

However, if you have a fleet of vehicles which are solely used for courier services, are taxis or HGVs then the number required to qualify may alter!

Typically the number of commercial use vehicles is four or five, but as mentioned it is always checking a number of different insurance companies to see who are offering the most appropriate and competitive fleet insurance deals to see whether your vehicles will qualify.

Having cheap fleet insurance can potentially save you or your company hundreds of pounds each year on premiums while still providing various different amounts of cover.

Concerns For Diabetic Taxi Drivers

Diabetic Taxi Drivers in Nottinghamshire anxiously await their council decisions to see if they are legally allowed to drive a taxi while having type one diabetes.

Last Thursday a meeting was held at the Newark and Sherwood council to vote on whether taxi driving licenses should be taken away from taxi drivers who suffer from type one diabetes. The fear is that one of the drivers may have a hypoglycaemic attack while driving a fair, putting public safety in danger.

This form of diabetes requires control of insulin levels, normally via injection or insulin pump. It also requires careful dietary management. As such it can often be difficult for taxi drivers to ensure their insulin levels are at healthy levels during long shifts as such any diabetic taxi driver should always be careful.

It is important to ensure that any diabetic taxi drivers under your supervision are given adequate time for breaks to check their insulin levels and resolve any issues. It is important to remember that while type one diabetics are allowed to drive cars, and often taxis, they are not allowed to drive larger vehicles.

The Nottinghamshire council currently regulates its diabetic taxi drivers on a case by case basis, however they plan to readdress the issue again in July. According to council members there was not enough information gathered to make a decision straight away.

Diabetes UK say that there is no reason why people with diabetes should not be allowed to drive taxis, and that many people with diabetes are fully fit to drive vehicles. They say that by withdrawing the licenses from taxi drives indiscriminately it would deny some taxi drivers the chance to earn a living.

Currently the DVLA must be informed if you have type on diabetes, however it does not exclude you from driving a personal vehicle. Most insurance companies require you to inform the DVLA of any medical conditions prior to applying for insurance, and should your medical conditions change without informing the DVLA you may inadvertently void an insurance policy, this includes taxi insurance.

Finding Completive HGV Insurance Deals

Finding completive HGV insurance deals can be a nightmare, with insurance companies all offering cheap deals to gain your custom how do you which is best?

Insurance companies which specialise in HGV insurance are probably the best solution for those want to ensure their trucks are fully protected on and off the road.

Insurers who offer ‘all in deals’ such as One Business Insurance Solutions can save you a lot of time and hassle by including the truck insurance, Goods In Transit cover, Public Liability and Employer’s Liability (if applicable) under one company. This type of deal can also reduce your administration time and the problem of having to remember numerous renewal dates each year.

As with all other types of vehicle insurance there are many insurers who also offer this type of hassle free cover. Reputable companies have business and risk assessment plans which can save you time and money not only on your insurance costs but also help to lower your overall running costs.

Probably the easiest way to find competitive deals is to go online and carry out research and obtain quotes from a number of different insurance companies. If you don’t have the time or quite frankly the inclination, make use of insurance brokers who also specialise in HGV insurance and let them carry out the searches on your behalf.

Business which have more than 4 or 5 trucks can also make huge insurance savings by having a HGV fleet insurance policy. Again, search online to see if this option is available to suit your business needs, the number of trucks needed to qualify for fleet insurance does vary between HGV insurance companies -another good reason to shop around!

BBC’s Watchdog Highlight Concerns Over Mini Steering Pump Failures

Last night’s BBC Watchdog programme highlighted the problems some BMW Mini owners are experiencing with unexpected and potential safety issues regarding sudden loss of the steering control.

The Mini celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. It continues to be a very popular car, however many people have experienced some very close calls when without warning they go to steer round a corner only to find that the steering pump has failed, leaving it virtually impossible to steer the car safely. People shared their ‘near miss’ incidents and their concern for their own and others safety.

BMW Mini sat that it is not a fault, however people are paying up to £800 to have steering pumps replaced as most cars having this problem are no longer under warranty. Minis built between 2001-2007 appear to be the most susceptible.

Repairers are having a field day, with one repairer saying he receives 2 calls a day from people asking for steering pumps to be replaced. VOSA has also become involved, but after carrying out their own tests they say the car is still safe to drive even if the steering pump does fail.

Independent motoring experts suggest that the Minis are re-called as a safety precaution. BMW Mini confirmed that all newly built Minis have a new design of steering pump fitted.

It will be interesting (?) where one would stand if a steering pump fails and as a result an accident car or van insurance claim is made. Would a no claims discount be ‘lost’ through no direct fault of the driver it was proven that the steering pump failed?

Online Car and Van Insurance Deals

It seems every time you switch on the TV a bombardment of commercials flash across the screen telling you of the great savings you can make on your car insurance.

Churchill are now offering for their prices to remain the same until next, it’s wise to read the small print at the bottom of the screen as restrictions and conditions do apply.

With all insurance companies claiming to give you the best deals it can all become very overwhelming. The insurance industry is a very competitive market place as such most reputable insurance companies will offer a ‘like-for-like quote or offer to beat any quote you have be given on a like-for-like basis.

Needless to say cheap does not always mean it is the best. Many of the cheap insurance will only provide basic cover, while you may pay a little more if you use a different company their policy may include far more. In other words by the time you have added the optional extras onto cheap insurance it doesn’t actually work out cheaper than using a slightly more expensive company which include these optional extras within their quote.

Many insurance companies will also offer a reduction if you buy online. The best thing to do if you’re looking for car or van insurance is to go online and make comparisons as to exactly what you get for your money. If you’re not sure give them a ring and tell them what you are looking for and they will offer you their best quote. You could also use a comparison website, however, not all insurance companies are listed. Alternatively use an online car or van insurance broker and let them do the searching for you.

Advanced Driver Training Courses Can Help Lower Insurance Costs

Insurance companies are looking very favourably on HGV drivers who undergo a continuous driver improvement scheme. These advance driving scheme can also save haulage companies huge sums of money of the running costs of the trucks.

Driving scheme can refresh the memory of safe driving as well as introduce drivers to newer and safer driving methods, such as avoiding excessive breaking, saving money on expensive tyres and braking systems and finding safe ways to help reduce boredom on long trips.

Measures such as these can also help alleviate poor driving practices which befall the best of drivers over a period of time! Complacency when driving potentially means more risks are taken and increase the chances of being involved in an accident.

What’s more is that HGV insurance premiums can be reduced quite considerably if hauliers take part in an enhanced driving scheme, such as the one day ‘Advanced LGV Driver’ offered by the Institute of Advanced Motoring.

Schemes such as these should be seen in a constructive and positive light, not as a slur on driving ability per say. Drivers will be given a full day both on and off the road, lunch is usually included, where they will learn how to promote a haulage company to deliver a more professional service using safer driving methods and techniques.

The courses are also intended to reduce the number of accidents involving HGVs. As such the number of insurance claims will be fewer and can help protect no claims discounts.

All in all, ‘Advanced LGV Driver’ schemes can save your business money in both HGV insurance costs and reduce running costs.

Spare a Thought For Courier drivers

Spare a thought for courier drivers during the treacherous weather conditions.

They may be having enough trouble getting to the destinations safely only to find that pathways have not been cleared and are potential skating rinks! Some members of the public take it upon themselves to clear their own paths, however, extra care should still be taken as black ice may still pose a problem when delivering to people’s front doors!

Drivers may also be wise to check that their employers have included Employer’s Liability cover with their  courier insurance policy. Employers have a legal responsibility to protect their workforce while they are carrying out their normal working duties. If you are unsure as to what is included, the terms and conditions involved in Employers Liability insurance speak with your employer to see where you stand.

You should also check whether the courier insurance is third party only or comprehensive. Third party insurance does not provide cover if an accident was caused by you. This may be an unavoidable situation id you start to skid on snow or ice. Despatch riders are also included on courier insurance, so they need to be sure of their or their employers insurance cover.

The Met office are forecasting more heavy snow fall over parts of the UK today. Combined with freezing overnight temperatures road conditions are going to cause major problems, particularly on any side roads which have not been gritted. This cold snap is thought to be lasting for a few more days at the very least.