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Back at Ontime's base in Basildon, we meet director, fleet
Page 52
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assistance, George Georgiou (below, left) and director Gary Packer (below, right). The firm has 200 vehicles, which range from vans to a pool of 23 trucks, including the XF95. There are six heavy recovery vehicles located at the site, which covers Essex and the East London approaches.
"Half the recovery work is with cars, and the rest is of vehicles weighing 3.5 tonnes and above," Packer explains. "Its mostly breakdowns — clutch and suspension faults." As we'd already experienced, the workload fluctuates dramatically, from only a handful one day to 22 CV call-outs the next.
But who decides which recovery firm is called to the scene? Packer and Georgiou explain that Essex Police organises the pick-up schedule on a daily rotation basis. There are 33 firms involved — 10 of which pull CVs — and individual jobs are awarded as they arise. Unusually, the local constabulary also sets the contract rates in the area. Packer says this is a highly competitive sector, and profit margins are tight, while operators have to complete specialist courses in addition to their Class 1 training. Some Ontime recovery personnel, for example, take the Essex Police Fast Road Course practical. "Safety is paramount," Packer confirms. "We have to ensure we are not putting anybody in danger. That includes customers, staff and other road users."
It helps that the police generally tend to work well with the recovery operators. If Ontime recovery drivers request a road closure, the police will generally agree that it's appropriate. It's also essential to prioritise the stages of recovery quickly and efficiently. As a result. HGVs can play second fiddle to consignments. Packer explains: "Perishable loads mean limited timescales, so they can be more important than recovering the actual vehicle." For that reason, recovery operators need gear such as the Daf XF95.
Contact: Ontime Rescue and Recovery on 0870 442 9999 or www.ontime-recovery. corn