If you drive trucks for a living, you may not have the choice of what engine you drive professionally, unless you drive your own, of course. But of course, you’re not in the truck all the time, and the kind of car you choose for family life depends on personal choice, what your partner and kids think, etc….

More and more people are now choosing to buy family cars that are also low emission cars as well as having great fuel economy. Of course, the cheaper they are to run, the better for your wallet, but the more you can reduce emissions caused by your personal transportation, than all the better for the planet.

Up until recently, the most likely cars to produce lower emissions would be hybrids and electric vehicles. In the UK, the Honda Insight offers a great 64.2mpg with carbon dioxide emissions of only 101g/km. But in the last couple of years, hybrid cars have begun to be equalled by, and even bettered by, conventional cars – and more often than not they’re diesel-fuelled.

Take the Ford Focus as an example. The 1.6 TDCi Econetic Start/Stop can achieve 74.2 mpg and with carbon dioxide emissions of just 94g/km. Similarly the Kia Rio – a supermini rather than a real family car – can offer 88.3mpg.

It depends where your main focus lies when choosing a car, but there are few people that wouldn’t rank good fuel economy statistics highly, especially given the continual rises in the world’s oil prices. Of course, there are other factors that people look for in a car – comfort for the driver and their passengers, the amount of space for cargo, the flexibility of the seating arrangements, not to mention the want or need for decent driving performance.

For anyone looking for a new family car, they need to decide where their priorities lie, and then start their research accordingly.

If you take a look at the new honda civic 2012 model. You’ll be hard pressed to decide whether this is a sensible family saloon car, or an out and out sports car – or the kind of “hot hatch” type of vehicle usually aimed at twenty-somethings.

The truth is that it’s a little bit of all these things, but is still a little toned down from its predecessor eighth generation Civic.

The Honda Civic has been around a long me in the UK. In fact, 2012 is the 40^th anniversary of the little car’s arrival on these shores. At first, the Civic slightly perplexed UK drivers used to Ford Cortinas and the like, but soon started selling like hotcakes and is now part of the very fabric of British society.

In fact, the Civic has sold more than 650,000 models over the last four decades and sows no signs of slowing down just yet; quite the opposite in fact.

The latest version of the Civic is built in Swindon and looks superb. Its looks are slightly toned down from its predecessor eighth generation – but this is what we really want according to Honda’s extensive research into Civic drivers.

Perhaps disappointingly for the environmentalists among us, there is no hybrid version as yet – and Honda has confirmed that it has no plans, as yet, to introduce one, as there are a number of hybrid options from the existing line-up including the Honda Insight, Jazz and CR-Z.

Perhaps it isn’t needed, though. The fact is that the emission levels from the 2.2 diesel version of the Civic 2012 re so impressive (along with the better than 63mpg figures) that the car still qualifies for the road tax discount. This will cost owners just £20 after the first free year.

It looks like Honda has the new Civic’s balance just right. Time – and sales – will tell.

OK, time for a bit of fun. There are many myths about trucks and truck drivers and it’s time we debunked a few – if only to help get the insurance premiums down a little!

The first is the biggie; the belief that truckers cause a lot of accidents. Of course this isn’t true. In fact, in the States, commercial trucks manage to somehow be involved in a mere 2.4% of all road traffic accidents, whilst trucks are about four times as likely as passenger cars and passenger trucks to pass safety inspections. This says it all.

The next myth is that truck drivers are often shady types, who may well take illegal drugs from time to time etc. The truth is that around 50% of all truck drivers face drug tests and if they’ve been convicted of any serious crimes, they aren’t allowed to become truck drivers in the first place. Meanwhile, if they’re convicted of drug or alcohol offences whilst driving, their employers face prosecution.

The third myth is that truck drivers are always men who are fat, bigoted and slow to embrace the modern age. This myth is perpetuated by all sorts of media. It’s true that the majority of truck drivers are men, but this is changing rapidly.

Meanwhile truckers have to be quite fit, both physically and mentally, for the long drives they do and the mental alertness and concentration it takes.

Truckers are also known to embrace new technologies – particularly in their chosen field, and many truckers choose eco cars for their personal vehicles (the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight being the most popular, reportedly) as they’re perhaps more aware than most other people of the pollution vehicles cause.

So there we are – don’t believe the media’s trucker myths.

Apparently, up to 30 per cent of commercial truck accidents aren’t reported by their drivers. Generally these are accidents where they haven’t been at fault and the truck driver assumes that the other driver will make a claim on their insurance policy if they need to.

This is bizarre as it’s very unlikely that the same drivers would do this in their own private vehicle, whether they drive a Honda or a Ferrari, an old rust bucket or one of the eco cars UK consumers now own in bigger numbers. With their own cars, there is perhaps more of a sense of responsibility. Sometimes, not reporting an accident in a work truck may be down to embarrassment or a hope that no one will find out. But quite often the non-reporting is because the driver doesn’t know how to go about it.

The person responsible for managing a commercial fleet of trucks and drivers should brief drivers on how to go about reporting accidents. All insurance companies provide accident report forms and a copy should be kept in each truck, ready to use if and when needed. Train the drivers on how to complete these forms.

The most important thing is that the drivers think on their feet at the time of a collision. Take down as much information as possible. Gather facts – don’t accuse anyone of anything.

First off, make sure no one has been hurt.  Assuming not, then make sure everyone is out of danger and then go ahead and get the other driver’s details. Note the date, time and place the accident happened.  Take a note of other vehicles’ registrations and drivers’ names, whether they had passengers.

Blame shouldn’t be discussed until the police arrive.  If anyone has a camera, take pictures of damage and position of the vehicles. Drivers should also note down a description of how the accident happened, and draw a diagram to illustrate it. They should contact their fleet manager and then the insurance company.

Claims that go in with full and clear details are handled much more quickly than those with sketchy information.

Truck makers Toyota and Ford have plans to develop a hybrid powertrain for light trucks and SUVs. It looks like other manufacturers may have to follow suit as pressure grows on businesses to buy greener transport options.

Although hybrid trucks are nothing new, they still lag behind cars. Volvo launched the first HGV to run on a combination of diesel and electric power in 2008.

Honda, though, is one of the acknowledged leaders in hybrid technology so it looks like it won’t be too long before there are Honda hybrid truck options. The first ever mass produced parallel hybrid (whereby the single electric motor and the internal combustion engine can both individually – or together – power the vehicle) was the Honda Insight.

Toyota and Ford will work together in order to share development costs and generally quicken the whole process.

The hybrid powertrain in development will be for rear-wheel vehicles only – and will be phased in over the next decade.

With a hybrid vehicle, the electric motor works in tandem with a petrol engine.

Apart from the obvious savings in fuel consumption with hybrids, and lower emissions, one of the main benefits for trucks and lorries is the reduction in noise.

The commercial vehicle manufacturer, Mitsubishi Fuso, has recently given a preview of its new heavy-duty hybrid truck. The so-called Super Great HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle) includes a conventional diesel engine, an electric motor-generator, a lithium-ion battery and control software. The company claims an increase in fuel-efficiency of up to 10% when compared to a diesel only equivalent – to say nothing of the environmental improvements.

The company intends to preview the Super Great HEV at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show between November 30 and December 11.

As winter approaches, it’s really important to dig out the relevant files and check that any trucks your business owns are covered for insurance.  The number of road incidents soars during the winter months, mainly due to weather based driving difficulties.

Common causes of problems are ice on the road and drivers not slowing down sufficiently to take account of the change in road conditions. Trucks and lorries are liable to jackknife in icy conditions; causing at the least huge traffic jams, sometimes injuries and perhaps even fatalities.  Even being caught in a jam behind a jackknifed lorry can cause misery in the cold winter months if you’re stuck there until the stricken truck is moved.

If one of your trucks does happen to be in an accident, it’s vital to be properly covered by your insurance policy.  It’s best to have comprehensive insurance as that will cover damages to your truck, you and any other vehicle or property involved in the collision.

Search around for the best insurance deal. Just as owners of hybrid cars can sometimes get a better deal with a specialist insurer, so can truck drivers. If an insurance company specialises in a particular group of vehicles, they are more likely to be able to offer better prices than a generalist insurer.

Certain vehicles like low emission cars will be able to get good insurance deals. While trucks rarely qualify as low emission cars, it’s still worth making sure you know all the details about the kind of vehicle you have, and what you want covered by your insurance policy before you start ringing round or searching online for quotes.

During winter, the most important thing is to take your time on the roads. Allow for extra journey time, so that you don’t try to shave minutes off a trip and put yourself and others at risk in the process.

If you drive trucks for a living you’ll know that it’s of paramount importance to stay safe while you’re on the road. As the driver, you are responsible for the vehicle’s safety and being safe will protect you and the goods you are carrying. The better you drive, the fewer accidents you are likely to have, which will help keep your insurance premiums low.
However, it’s worth reminding yourself about a few of the basic safety rules, as years on the road can breed complacency.
Regular maintenance
It’s really important to keep your vehicle in good condition – so you’re less likely to experience problems when out on the road.  Since you did your training, how much has truck technology changed?  For example, you may have trained with a diesel HGV and now be driving a Honda hybrid.  Different engines require different kinds of maintenance, so keep up to date on how to look after the one you’re driving.
Buckle up
Although it’s as automatic a gesture as turning the key in the ignition, some drivers do forget to fasten their seatbelts.  Many injuries and deaths on the road could be avoided simply through the proper use of seatbelts.
Switch off
No, don’t start daydreaming – keep your eyes and thoughts on the road.  Do switch off mobile phones so you’re not tempted to text, make or answer a call. Avoid any distractions while driving. If you have to use your phone while driving, make sure it’s a hands-free one and keep the conversation to a minimum.
Watch out
Make full use of your mirrors to make sure you don’t miss anything behind or to either side of you as you’re going along.  You could also install a rear view camera that allows you to see what’s going on behind your truck. These are relatively cheap and are easy to use.
Keep your distance
Always remember that trucks take longer to stop than cars.  Allow plenty of distance between you and the vehicle in front to make sure you have time to stop if you need to.
Remembering to use these basic safety rules will help make you a better driver.  You can also ensure that you’re a more environmentally sound driver by driving at a steady pace, without any aggressive acceleration or sudden braking. In the same way as with low emission vehicles such as Honda cars, if you drive your truck at a steady pace, your engine will produce fewer harmful emissions.

If you’re just starting out in the transport business – or thinking about doing so – you really need to have a good long think about your insurance needs and options.
First – do your research. Do as much research into your insurance as you would in considering new car offers, or choice of truck/s.
There simply is no ‘one size fits all’ insurance approach. In practice, everyone’s insurance needs are different.
A good insurer will speak to you in detail about your business needs and potential liabilities. Any insurer who doesn’t do so should be treated with a little healthy cynicism.
Truck insurance is a more complicated and specialised field than car insurance. Before making its recommendations, the insurance company needs to understand your business to then ascertain your specific needs.
The cover you’ll need depends on many different factors including your own circumstances, the type of transport work you do or are planning to do, the type(s) of vehicle(s) you operate, the nature of the goods you’ll be carrying and whether you are a sole trader or employ other drivers.
As an overall guide you are likely to need basic vehicle insurance which includes trailer cover if necessary, goods in transit insurance, public liability insurance, employers’ liability insurance (if you employ anyone), and legal expenses cover.
You may also be well advised to think about accident and sickness cover, vehicle breakdown cover, specialist insurance for hybrid vehicles, insurance for loss of use and continental medical expenses cover if you need to drive overseas.
As you can see, it’s potentially a complex business and it’s often best to put all the insurance under one roof with a truck and lorry insurance specialist who fully understands your unique needs. No two sets of insurance requirements for transport companies are the same.

Shopping around for truck insurance is not something you want to do at the end of a busy week.  Yet it’s essential that people get the right kind of cover for their vehicles, be it their work truck or their family or 4×4 cars.
As with most things in life these days, a lot of the search time has been reduced by the numerous websites who will do the comparison between insurers on your behalf.  You only need to put in all those long and lengthy details once, and with a click of a button all the searches are done for you.
However, it may be worth doing a little bit more of the legwork yourself, as not all insurers are checked by every comparison website.  You may find a better deal this way, and once you’ve got all the information together for an initial search, at least you’ll have it at your fingertips for any other calls or searches you make separately.
If you do need to make a claim on your truck insurance, it’s much the same process as people go through making claims for family cars.
1.    Call the police, or go and get a police report as soon as possible after the incident.
2.    Call your insurance agent immediately and be as honest and detailed as you can on all the facts.
3.    Take photos of the vehicles involved. These can be used as evidence.
4.    Get a witness to give you their contact details, and agree to be contacted by your insurance agency.
5.    Once the claim has been processed, make sure you are happy with the amount the insurance agency offers before you agree to settle.  Any delayed complaint is less likely to be resolved in your favour.
6.    Remember, each claim you make is likely to push up your premiums, so if the damage is minor, think about paying for the repairs directly, not through your insurance.