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G snorel haulage is the staple diet of many hauliers. Saying
Page 68
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that, most operators, when pressed. can name one or two consignments. The general haulage conducted by R Clark and Sons is so varied, however, that CMcan't even get an inkling of what the firm's Scania R124 carries.
"I cannot say that we specialise in anything," says Ray Clark, partner. Brian, his son and business partner, drives the 11124. but this truck rarely operates locally. This father-and-son outfit is based in the Northumberland village of South Chariton, 40 miles north of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
Brian spends a lot of time driving around the country. Ray. although the grateful recipient of the state pension, keeps the firm's other truck on the go—a Scania 93 sixwheel rigid with livestock container.
His background is in agriculture. "I used to work as a steward on a local farm," he says. "This haulage company came up for sale in 1988. It seemed a challenge at the time, and so I bought it," Ray already had the Class 1 licence. For years II Clark and Sons' two trucks concentrated on livestock haulage. BSE hit the firm hard, and it lad the father-and-son team to take the initiative: they diversified. BSE was a blow to livestock hauliers but it seems a walk in the park when compared with the ravages of foot and mouth.
Luckily for the Clarks, when the foot and mouth bomb dropped, they had already spread their business into the realms of general haulage.
Foot and mouth has been eradicated on British soil, but livestock haulage does not pay like it used to. To make matters worse, many farmers now transport their livestock themselves, in small trailers pulled by cars, pickups or agricul
R CLARK II, SONS
Ray has the occasional quiet spell.
"I transport sheep and cattle from farms to local markets," he explains, "We broke even last year on livestock. There is a profit with general haulage, though."
Ray's driving schedule—one or two days' working between days off—gives him the opportunity to work on his vehicle. A hissing noise is detected from the truck. It's the brake compressor, its not a serious problem. I have got a pipe made up in Alnwick, and I'll ft it myself."
Bigger jobs are handled by Billy Cow, an HGV mechanic who employs several fitters. Eleanor, Ray's wife, looks after the accounts. As well as involving itself in general haulage, the firm sometimes subcontracts for bigger hauliers.
Ray admits that the livestock work covers the cost of running the Scanla rigid— and no more. "But I'm getting my pension now so I'm not so bad," he assures us. He's transporting cows and sheep during the week. Why not supplement this work with carrying pigs from farms to markets? "I'm not so keen
SPECIALITY General haulage and livestock.