1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152 
Staying on the ball
Page 28
Page 29
Page 30
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Some aids to compliance turn out to be luxuries in times of recession, but, despite having to make savings, Barry Proctor Services is still determined not to let standards slip.
Words: Guy Sheppard / Images: Niget Spreadbury When times are tough, non-essential parts of a business need reviewing, even when they concern compliance. This approach has lcd to some difficult choices for Barry Proctor Services over the past 18 months.
With most of its work linked to the construction sector. Barry Proctor Services has suffered more than most other hauliers from the economic downturn. According to the Construction Products Association, deliveries of bricks, which account for three-quarters of Proctor's business, fell by 43% in the two years to last October.
The Stoke-on-Trent-based company has, therefore, had to think carefully about how it continues to encourage high standards among its drivers. One practice that has been scrapped is giving bonuses based on readouts from a vehicle management information system about how well each truck has been driven.
Accessories
Managing director Barry Proctor explains that a certain number of points would entitle drivers to accessories for <4' their trucks.
He adds: -It's OK when you're making money, you can do these things. We're probably 40% down on turnover in what we were doing two years ago. We are financially very sound, but there are an awful lot of haul leo, out there that are going to find it very. very tough.
Proctor also decided to end the comptun's lour sear involvement with the Opcom compliance scheme.'Dis involves having twice-yearly independent audits to see best practice is being applied Is managemelit and drhers -We spent an awful lot of mtiney on things like 'that hut. with the drop-off in work, you have to Cut ‘,.olif costs.
While valuing lessons learned from the programme. Proctor says it was time-consuming attempting to meet its exacting, standards.
Not enough
"One of it-lett-U[1gs I fell was that. no matter what von did, it was not enough,he reveals.
Leaving Opcom does not mean he has rclaxed his approach to compliance, however, and Proctor remains a member ofthe .1ransport for London-run Freight Operator Recognition Scheme (F0 lS i. 1.11k enema a,2.e.;
companies deliveriml in London 10 prioritise safety and reduce their environmental impact.
In one wm. the recession has actually helped emphasise the value Proctor places on good driving. When seven LH, ers Had to be made redundant a Year ago (December 2H118). he took into account each driver's record for accidents, fact efficiency and vehicle cleanli;less hefore making his decision.
"I had to pui in place a si,-tein to make these guys redundant that I thought was absolutely fair." he recalls.
I he companv has a methodical ii.)proach to paper 1)r k. issuing drivers with h checklist o documents such is &Ilk detect worts that they need LC) till in and sign. rarture to do this results in the loss ot a €20 weekly bonus. ill drivers are now issued with a I]lc that contains vs ervihing front vehicle lest certificates to licences to drive a forklift. [his was introduced earlier this year 10 avoid any dciat when arriving on construction sites.
Any !.2..V.al ClUllip,!`, that drivers need to know about
are explained by letter. Proctor is a strong advocate of the Road Haulage Association ( RHA) as the best source of information about new legislation.
He receives this through monthly meetings of its Staffordshire sub-region as well as through a regional newsletter.
"The RHA is a superb organisation for keeping you up-to-date with legislation. I talk to people who say they didn't know anything about this or that. It's because they never bother to go to meetings or even be members."
Ignorance or disregard for changes in the law was brought home to him after Scotland became the first part of the UK to ban smoking in cabs. While at Lymm motorway services near Manchester, he checked more than 70 trucks parked there and only one had the required window sticker explaining the legislation. -I did it just out of curiosity. It's one of my gripes: you comply, but nobody else bothers." •