/ By Sarah Collard / Uncategorized/ • • • • / 0 Comments

What you need to know about the red diesel ban…

Time is running out for contractors to prepare for the impending red diesel ban.

Contractors have previously warned that the end to the red diesel rebate will hit an industry still reeling from rising material and labour costs.

With help from Build UK we have tried to break down the key points for contractors

What is Red Diesel?

‘Red diesel’ is a fuel that is currently used in off-road vehicles and machinery. It is used in a number of industries, most prominently construction and agriculture, where users are entitled to a rebate on the tax or duty paid on the fuel purchased.

Red diesel is the same as regular white diesel but with a red dye and chemical markers added to it to prevent its misuse in road vehicles.

What is changing in April 2022?

The government says it is introducing the law change – via the Finance Bill 2021 – to help meet climate change and air quality policy objectives. Red diesel accounts for production of almost 14m tonnes of

The Government announced in the Budget 2020 that the entitlement to use rebated red diesel or rebated biofuels (e.g. Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) would be removed from most sectors, including construction, from 1 April 2022. This means it will be illegal to put red diesel into the tank of a vehicle or machine that is not entitled to use it after this date.

HMRC has published guidance on the changes to use of red diesel from 1 April 2021.

When might traces of red diesel be found in plant and equipment used for construction work?

For a short period of time after the rules change on 1 April 2022, businesses may find that traces of red diesel are still present in the fuel tanks of vehicles or machines on site as the fuel is used up before being replaced with white diesel. How long this will take will depend on the type of vehicle or machine, the size of its fuel tank, its rate of fuel consumption and how frequently it is used.

Businesses that currently use red diesel but will no longer be entitled to after 1 April should plan to run down the fuel in their vehicles and machines and use up existing stocks being held in storage by this date. Businesses will not be expected to flush out all traces of red diesel from storage tanks but should plan to empty and refill them with white diesel before putting fuel into their vehicles or machines after the rules change.

There is also a possibility that traces of red diesel may be found where plant and equipment is used for both entitled and non-entitled purposes (such as agriculture and construction work).

HMRC is clear that tanks must either be flushed to remove all traces of red diesel when switching from entitled to non-entitled use or fuelled with white diesel for all uses. Hire companies should always complete a post-hire inspection when plant and equipment is returned to them which should note what fuel was in the vehicle.

What should a business do if it finds any red diesel in plant and equipment to be used for construction work after 1 April 2022?

Businesses should always check what fuel is in the tank and/or engine before starting operation. If red diesel is found, businesses should not use the plant or equipment until they confirmed whether the red diesel was added before 1 April or after that date. If the red diesel was added after that, they must flush the tank, refill with the correct fuel and evidence should be kept to prove that this was done.

If the plant or equipment was hired, businesses should contact the hire company and inform them that the vehicle or machine contained the wrong fuel for the intended use when hired.

Red_diesel_tank.jpg

Who is responsible for ensuring that red diesel is no longer used in plant and equipment for construction work?

Hire companies should make their customers aware that the fuel they are permitted to use depends on the use of the vehicle or machine. Hire companies should always ask what the vehicle or machine will be used for and, if it is unclear whether it is for an entitled purpose, then it should be fuelled with white diesel.

Contractors should ensure that the plant and equipment they use on site is always filled with the correct fuel – if diesel, then it must be white diesel.

What action should businesses take now to prepare for this change from 1 April 2022?

1. Identify all plant and equipment you own, hire, lease or use that currently uses red diesel

2. Assess existing stocks of red diesel and develop a plan for running them down

3. Talk to your diesel supplier to make sure you are not over-ordering red diesel

4. Determine a schedule for moving to white diesel, including flushing out tanks

5. Review existing contracts with both clients and suppliers for any potential price implications from the loss of entitlement

6. Discuss with your clients the cost implications of plant and equipment using white diesel from 1 April 2022

What does all this mean for hired plant?

In a nutshell: extra processes. Build UK advises contractors to check what fuel is in the equipment they hire before they turn it on and, if red diesel is found, to establish when it was added. If rebated diesel went into a machine or vehicle illegally, it must be flushed out and replaced with white diesel. Build UK advises giving this responsibility to the hire company, which should itself be doing regular inspections.

Build UK urges contractors to keep items, including fuel receipts and invoices, hire contracts and driver time sheets. The CPA also suggests maintaining records of what type of activities machinery is used for.

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Important factors that an HGV driver must consider

Everyone’s busy.  We’re all trying to get from A to B as quickly and safely as possible. But have you ever considered the extra care that HGV drivers have to take in order for their loads to reach their destinations in one piece?

Here at Eynesbury Plant Hire we provide road haulage container contractor services, which means that a lot of our lorries are on UK roads every single day.  Although our drivers are trained to drive these heavy goods vehicles (which are up to ten times the size of an average car), with traffic on our roads constantly increasing, there are far more hazards than ever before.

With accidents involving HGVs being amongst the more serious due to the sheer size and weight of the vehicles, HGV drivers need to be far more vigilant than the average car driver.  Here’s why:

Parking

Small car drivers can park relatively easily just about anywhere.  Some won’t think about how much remaining space is required for a lorry to pass through safely.  For an HGV driver parked cars are one of the biggest obstructions when it comes to reaching their destination safely.  Cars parked near to, or opposite junctions are dangerous, as a lorry’s turning circle can be seriously compromised.

Distance

Keeping a safe distance is vitally important for an HGV driver.  Due to the size and weight of the vehicle, stopping distances are hugely increased in comparison to a car.  Likewise, cars should keep a safe distance from lorries, as the length of the vehicle can make it very difficult for the driver to see any vehicles travelling behind them, even with the use of mirrors.

Timing

HGV drivers have targets to meet. They have to get their loads to their destinations on time the same as you have to get to work on time.  You’ll rarely see an HGV breaking any speed limits, but it doesn’t mean that they aren’t eager to get to where they need to be.  It just means that they’re taking every care to get there safely, to get their load there undamaged, and to make sure that you, the other drivers, aren’t in any danger from them on their journey.

Consideration

Any person that drives an HGV is under strict rules to take a break after every 4.5 hours of driving.  This means they have to find safe places to stop, which can sometimes be difficult on single carriage roads.  This is why you’ll often see huge lorries parked up on roadside laybys. It’s not that they’re time wasting; they’re required by law to take regular scheduled breaks.  General consideration to and from other road users is part of an HGV driver’s training. Signalling of manoeuvres, safe driving distances and overall awareness of the road conditions will help to keep everyone safe!

If you would like to find out more about our Haulage Service, follow this link.

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Plant and Digger Hire Bedfordshire

At Eynesbury Plant Hire, we deliver plant hire, haulage, road sweepers and diggers in Bedfordshire and beyond! We provide all customers with service that goes above and beyond. With over 50 years in the business, we can provide our expert advice and guide you on the best machinery and transportation for any job.

We have a wide range of plant and digger hire services to suit our client’s needs, all of our plant hire services are extremely well maintained with regular servicing. The last thing you want is equipment to fail you, that’s why we stick to strict processes to ensure all of our equipment and transportation is in brilliant working order. With our forever-growing customer base, we know how important it is to provide only the best. That’s why our plant hire fleet is constantly updated!

All Eynesbury Plant Hire operators are competent and experienced with current CPCS cards, we are also CHAS accredited. We deliver our plant and digger hire service to your specified destination, and once delivered you can choose to either use one of our CPCS accredited operators, or alternatively, you can use our plant hire on a self-drive basis.

With an impressive range of hire services, we can help with the transportation of particularly heavy and large objects in and around Bedfordshire such as static homes, construction materials and trees.

We always carry out pre and post checks to ensure our equipment stays in excellent shape and is ready for our next hire client. Full service histories and annual safety check documentation is available for our entire fleet.

For outstanding customer service and reliable plant and digger hire, look no further! For more information regarding hire, or a quote, contact our office near Bedfordshire on 01480 215555 where the team will be happy to assist.

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Plant, Hiab, Digger and Road Sweeper Hire Cambridgeshire

Are you looking for reliable plant, Hiab, digger and road sweeper hire in the Cambridgeshire area? With over 50 years in the plant hire business, we can help with all of your transportation and machinery needs! We pride ourselves on offering superior customer service, we’re always on hand to help and advise you to ensure a smooth hire process. If you’re unsure on the scale of equipment you require, our expert team are always happy to help.

Every member of our Cambridgeshire based team are experienced with current CPCS cards, we are also CHAS accredited! You can enjoy peace of mind that you’re in capable hands with extensive experience working on a high number of large-scale projects. We can help with providing Hiab lorries, diggers and road sweepers for your project. We’ve built up an extensive range of modern equipment, all of which is kept in excellent working order.

All of our plant hire services are regularly maintained, updated and serviced to ensure we provide our customers with only the best! We understand how important it is that your transportation and machinery is reliable. We will deliver our plant hire services to your specified destination, you can choose to either use one of our CPCS accredited operators, or alternatively, you can use our plant hire on a self-drive basis.

We currently offer both 48-ton and 62-ton Hiab rental. If you’re not sure which is best for your requirements, just get in touch and we can direct you to the best solution.

Our impressive fleet of road sweepers provide consistently high pick up performance including dirt pick up around site and cleaning access roads. Our sweepers are designed for high productivity.

Need a digger asap? We have a number of excavators available, from 1.5-ton up to 14-ton for heavier duty works.

For a quote, or further information regarding our plant, Hiab, digger and road sweeper hire, contact our office in Cambridgeshire on 01480 215555 where the team will be happy to help you with your enquiry.

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Plant, Digger and Dumper Hire Hertfordshire

At Eynesbury Plant Hire, we regularly work with Hertfordshire based construction companies and individuals, providing reliable plant, digger and dumper hire. Established in 1966 we’ve built an impressive customer base, and boast extensive experience in providing plant hire for projects of all sizes! Our team can help you to choose the best equipment for the job, we’re always happy to listen to your requirements and assist in selecting the correct digger or dumper needed.

We know that it’s of utmost importance that your machinery and equipment is reliable and in excellent working order. We regularly maintain and service our entire fleet to ensure they’re up to date and meeting our high standards. We have a number of strict processes and always ensure that pre and post checks are carried out to make sure that our equipment remains in excellent shape. Full service histories and annual safety check documentation is available for our entire fleet.

Our fleet of dumpers includes forward tip, high tip and swivel trucks from 1 up to 9-ton. We offer quality, reliable dumper trucks with great fuel economy.

Need a digger in Hertfordshire? We have a range of different quality excavators available, from 1.5-ton up to 14-ton for heavier duty projects.

All of our operators here at Eynesbury Plant Hire are highly skilled and experienced with current CPCS cards, we are also CHAS accredited. We deliver our plant hire services directly to you, you can then choose to either use one of our qualified accredited operators, or alternatively, you can use our plant hire on a self-drive basis instead.

For further information regarding our plant, digger and dumper hire contact our office in Hertfordshire on 01480 215555 where the team will be happy to help you with your enquiry. We can guarantee a sensible quote and fantastic customer service.