AA unveils new garage strategy.
The AA has announced a new strategy in an attempt to "forge closer links with its garage supplier network". According to an AA statement the new strategy, which will be phased in over the next year, includes fee increases of 2.5 per cent from 1 July, reduction of operational expenditure for suppliers and a new self-billing system for garages. Selected suppliers will also receive an additional two per cent increase during peak demand periods, giving an overall increase of 4.5 per cent. Taking to the road with a brand new yellow logo, will be 100 emergency breakdown services (EBS) partners, drawn from the 800 strong garage network. In areas
where the workload is less, "preferred suppliers" will operate.

Automatic vehicle location from Dolphin.Dolphin Telecom has certified its first UK application for automatic vehicle location. FleetTrack, produced by Wave Telecom, is the first AVL application to be certified for use on Dolphin's UK TETRA network. Dolphin is working alongside companies such as Wave Telecom to stimulate a wide variety of specialist applications for use on its TETRA network.

First Arizona enters market.
L & J Rusbridge of Baldock, Hertfordshire is the first operator to purchase the new Truk Arizona Lo Pro 2.5 tonne spectacle lift. The Mitsubishi Canter vehicle, which has a factory-fitted crew cab, will enter service in the five-strong fleet. "What we have done is to use our thirty-five years of experience of building recovery vehicles to redesign our products so they can be mass produced," says Truk managing director Tony Jones. "With the Arizona range of spectacle lifts we aim to reduce the costs of buying quality spectacle lifts in the same way as we have in the slideback market."

New Mercedes for Marsdens.
Marsden Recovery Specialists of Belfast has announced the introduction of a new crew cab transporter to its Belfast depot fleet. Supplied by Worldwide Recovery, the latest addition is a Mercedes 1117 with a Whiteacres crew cab, Century 4 tonnes alloy slide bed and second car lift.

Cumbria scheme.
The new Cumbria constabulary vehicle recovery scheme goes live on 1 July 2000. The scheme is managed by Recovery Management Services Limited. Meanwhile, the Lancashire scheme, currently operated by RMSL, is now out to tender. The outcome of the successful bidder should be known within the next few weeks.

Rohill Beavertail.
Andover-based Rohill Bodies has launched a new Beavertail vehicle onto the market. The 5,000kg gvw Citroen Relay crew cab, which can carry in excess of 2,400kg, is built on a Rohill chassis conversion and body with optional air suspension. It has a lightweight aluminium deck, pull-out ramps and facility for 8,000lb winch with remote control. Other key features of the package are a passenger capacity of six, a three-year unlimited mileage driveline warranty and a cost price of around £25,000 plus VAT. Rohill Bodies