www.truckandtrack.com Autumn 2026 Truck and Track 13 BUSINESS NEWS Rear Under-Run Protection (RUP) etc Moving on to Rear Under-run protection (RUP) where VBG is recognised as the leading supplier in the UK. VBG have taken the “systems” approach to their kits to achieve compatibility and meet Type Approval requirements. Problems can arise if mismatched parts are purchased from various manufacturers and are possibly modified to suit a particular application! There then becomes is a risk that any changes may possibly infringe an Approval! Getting it right If we take the following as an example. A typical drawbar rear- end application using the VBG “systems” approach. A complete installation can be covered with only three approval certificates: one, covering the coupling: two the draw beam (towing crossmember) with side mounting plates; and three, the rear under -run device. This simplification is achieved by listing all the variations on the one single Approval Certificate. The drawbeam certificate covers the beam length variants and the available side mounting plates and brackets, some of which are also shared with the RUP system. Finally, the RUP Approval Certificate includes its own mounting system brackets. The RUP may simply be a fixed type or perhaps a sliding or swing-up version, including the numerous assortments of brackets and attachments which, are mentioned above, are listed and shared with the drawbeam and its Approval Certificate. Regarding RUP’s the strength requirements and positioning changed in 2021 when UNECE R58-03 was introduced. This change of legislation was made to further protect smaller vehicles (cars and motorcycles) and even people from getting trapped under the rear of a vehicle. The mounting position of the RUP was altered as were the forces used under testing conditions. The old system used an applied force of 10 tonnes, but the new R58-03 requirements were almost doubled to 18 tonnes. No doubt Type Approval will evolve over time to meet future legislation requirements. One thing is sure it has changed the industry and made it safer place for everyone. www.cbf.uk.com www.vbg.eu Descartes Systems Group, the global leader in uniting logisticsintensive businesses in commerce, announced that ArrowXL by JP Home, the U.K.’s largest and longest-established twoperson home delivery and warehousing specialist, has reduced its fleet mileage by approximately 13% using the route planning and execution capabilities within Descartes’ fleet performance management solution suite. By improving productivity and execution during planning and delivery, Descartes has helped ArrowXL by JP Home reduce operating costs and emissions while increasing delivery success rates, revenue per route and vehicle lifespan. “Our customer-centric team of experts has over 40 years of experience and has completed millions of deliveries for some of the UK’s leading retailers, e-tailers, and manufacturers,” said Rachel Hopkins, Chief Information Officer, ArrowXL. “Our big and bulky deliveries to businesses and shoppers, such as white goods, fridge freezers, washing machines and cookers, create complex distribution requirements. We outgrew our previous planning technology as the outputs it provided no longer gave us logical, valuable delivery insights to support growth. Descartes changed this. The solution now plans 95% of our team’s delivery routes overnight and, by decreasing our dependence on manual processes, we’ve reduced mileage by 13%. More effective planning has also reduced early route terminations from 5% to 1%, which improves deliveries on the first attempt. We’ve also achieved a 4% decrease in deliveries outside of customers’ preferred time windows.” Descartes’ AI-powered, fleet performance management solution suite helps distribution-intensive companies improve operational efficiency and customer experience. It supports dynamic delivery requirements, including same-day delivery. The Descartes solution improves route productivity by using advanced optimization technology to reduce the distance driven per delivery, which maximizes delivery capacity and reduces costs. ArrowXL’s team has also benefited from Descartes’ user-friendly interface, which makes using the solution straightforward for its planners and delivery teams. Further, it is enhancing ArrowXL’s proof of delivery and appointment tracking as part of the wider project. “ArrowXL is providing customers with a higher standard of delivery, lowering delivery costs, and enhancing productivity and sustainability while continuing to grow. We’re pleased our technology is part of this success story,” said James Wee, General Manager, Fleet Performance Management at Descartes. “As delivery operations expand, manual planning processes and disconnected tools quickly become limitations. We have a long history of helping customers manage greater delivery volumes with the same resources while improving service levels and operational consistency across their distribution network.” Learn more about Descartes at www.descartes.com ArrowXL Reduces Fleet Mileage in Home Delivery Operations by 13% with Descartes
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