Firstly, apologies for missing our usual video post on Friday. We’ve gotten emails from avid followers who are far from happy at missing our weekly pick.

However, better late than ever. This one we couldn’t quite believe, it was in the major papers, but what makes it even more shocking for us is that it is about a 10 second walk from our Manchester office! Glad I am no longer driving over this road!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apbMBluo36Y]

What makes us laugh most is the guy who thinks it’s a good idea to wander up and take a look in just after it collapses.

Good to know our council tax is being used well though, eh?! Shocking.

Shiply has been shortlisted for the 2009 Observer Ethical Awards.

The Observer Ethical Awards are instrumental in bringing green issues to the forefront of consumer minds and making businesses reassess their attitudes towards sustainability. The awards recognise those who pioneer a sustainable future and identify products, ideas and companies that make ethical living possible.

We are up for the Jupiter Big Idea award along with Nature Paint and RSA. Judging was conducted by a celebrity panel including: Jo Wood, Ben Okri, Rick Edwards and Deborah Meaden.

We look forward to the awards ceremony in early June.

As you may have seen (if and when you are logged in), we now have a link to leave feedback. It’s located on the left of the screen.

We work hard to ensure that we are performing as best as we can and so need your feedback to let us know if you think we are on the right tracks or to suggest improvements.

We love constructive criticism, so please do use the feedback tab to let us know what you think!

We are very pleased to announce that after countless hours of development, Shiply Mobile is now officially live. It is completely FREE OF CHARGE to all of our members.

Shiply mobile can be viewed from any mobile device, such as the iPhone, blackberry, PDA’s, smartphone, or even that banged up old Nokia sitting in your drawer at home. So, now you can access Shiply in a friendly, quick format wherever you are.

Shiply mobile has been designed for both transport providers and users. Here are the main features:

Transport Providers

• Keep track of your current bids
• Keep on top of your messages requiring a reply
• See if you have new bids accepted whilst out on the road!
• Carry out searches (all location, route and local)
• Place new bids

Users

• View your active shipments and keep on top of new bids
• Answer any messages transport providers may have for you – whilst you’re out and about
• Accept bids (don’t miss out on that great price just because you can’t get to a computer)

We are really proud of Shiply Mobile and hope that it will make using Shiply on the go, that much easier and quicker.

The platform is under beta status, whilst we have carried out loads of testing, we do expect there to be the odd little bug here and there. So, if you do find any, please let us know! Also, please do tell us what other functionality you would like to see.

We hope you enjoy using Shiply Mobile as much as we have enjoyed making it. Expect more exciting developments soon!

The mobile site can be accessed via: http://m.shiply.com.

Walking down the street with my girlfriend just the other day, she swung her arm around and almost shouted “what the hell is that!!”. Expecting to need to duck for my life, I turned only to be met with the huge presence of one of TK Maxx’s new lorries.

The picture doesn’t really do it justice, it is an absoulute monster!

According to TK Maxx:

We’ve been among the first to get these supermodels on the road. They are another aerodynamic innovation predicted to reduce carbon emissions by an estimated 10%.

Not only that, but we think they’re a great way of maximising load space – that is so long as they can use all of it!!

It’s great to receive recognition for the work we have put in, and so we are pleased to announce that we have been shortlisted for four prestigious environmental awards.

Environment Product/Service Award
&
NLS Innovation Award

SME Innovation Award

We look forward to meeting other like-minded companies at the ceremonies over the coming months.

We are constantly looking for ways to help our users when moving their goods. So, we have compiled a number of articles which should help you when moving and transporting those larger, bulkier goods.

Our collection of moving articles include how to transport; an oven, a washing machine, a dishwasher, a BBQ, a sink, a fridge freezer, a bed, a bookcase, a chest of drawers, a bed side cabinet, a chaise longue, a lamp and other large an bulky items.

We hope these handy little articles will help next time you are moving such goods.

There’s many more to come! So keep your eyes peeled.

It was announced yesterday with the budget that £1.4 billion is to be spent on the low carbon sector.

To give all industries the confidence to invest in low-carbon technologies, Alistair Darling also announced the world’s first carbon budget and committed Britain to cut carbon emissions by 34 per cent by 2020. We were disappointed not to see any clear intention of these funds specifically to reduce carbon emissions in the haulage industry.

Instead there was outrage at the decision of Government yet again raise fuel tax. Alistair Darling announced that fuel duty would rise by 2p per litre in September and then by 1p above inflation every April for the next four years.

“With rates being squeezed and deflationary worries growing, now is not the time to saddle forwarders’ haulage operations with extra fuel duty costs,” said Peter Quantrill, director general of the British International Freight Association (Bifa).

The Freight Transport Association (FTA) said the cost of Septembers’ fuel duty hike, in addition to the increase of 2p per litre back in December, will cost the industry an extra £553m and cause businesses to go bust.

“Insolvency in the logistics sector has doubled in the last year and the number of HGV drivers looking for work has almost quadrupled. What more evidence does the government need that parts of the sector are on their knees,” said FTA policy director James Hookham.

Now, we know that 25% of lorries run empty and many run at less than an optimal level but this truck exposed by Google Sreetview in New Orleans USA really does take it!

Either they thought, “better than nothing” or the yellow dumper druck has been exposed to some crazy shrinking ray gun!