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January used to be a quiet month for hauliers; a

18th January 2001
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Page 32, 18th January 2001 — January used to be a quiet month for hauliers; a
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

time to sort out all those little jobs that can only he put off for so long. But most hauliers don't get a quiet time any more...or do they? Miles Brignall reports.

Ask Lincolnshire haulier Joh Huddleston when he plans hi business and he'll tell you it' usually in the middle of th night when he can't sleep. Tal to international haulier Ralpl Davies, who sends trucks as fa afield as Tashkent in the former Soviet Unior and he points out that, like many industries haulage has become a 24-hour, seven-days-a week business.

Over the past zo years the just-in-time revc lution coupled with the trend for factories t reduce their stocks of materials has not onl spawned a boom in haulage, but has also le( to a growth of "24/7" operations. With super markets opening longer and offering an ever growing choice of produce, and factories increasingly working around the clock, hauliers have been forced to adapt.

"January used to be a quiet month for us but this year it's been quite the opposite," says Davies. "We've just sent four trucks off into Russia and it will be six weeks until we see them back. We usually carry high-value loads so it's important that someone is here all the time to track their progress. Although there are only three of us in the traffic office someone is always on hand to sort out any problems. PP

According to Cheltenhambased Davies, most hauliers used to have one quiet period of the year, depending on what sort of work they did. Not any more. "Every time you think you are going to have a calm week something happens to ruin it, so planning things to do in the quiet periods can be difficult," he says.

Davies' operation is unusual in many respects. He has an annual contract to run salads back from Spain over the Christmas period which involves going out empty.

"I was in the office on Christmas Day and there is always one of us available," he says. "For the rest of the year there is always one vehicle, somewhere, that will need sorting out."

Although January is now a busy month, the company is pressing ahead with its maintenance programme by refurbishing several tractor units.

"We run Volvos in Russia because, unlike some other makes, they are the only ones that can stand the Russian roads without falling apart," says Davies. "The oldest vehicles we run are N-registration and instead of selling them we have decided to do them up,"

Cancel Christmas!

He reports that residual values have gone through the floor, so instead of being worth £35,000 the tractors would be unlikely to sell for more than £16,000, so it makes sense to spend a bit of money on them and run for three more years: "We replace all the upholstery, give them a mechanical overhaul—do the pump and injectors—tidy them up and finally give them a full re-spray."

Other than planning such work to the vehicles, Davies says everything else has to be fitted into the normal working week. As soon as vehicles come back from a long run they are straight into the workshops—everything else is managed on the run, he says.

"I think every haulier in the country has problems getting drivers and if a driver announces he's leaving, you just have to find another. It's not a case of planning such things anymore, you've just got to find a replacement, and fast."

Despite the fact the he was in on Christmas day, Davies enjoys the 24/7 nature of the business. "I think you're either into it or you're not —if you want to do it properly, you've got to be around."

Another man who reports the demise of the quiet period is Chris Metcalf, logistics manager of minerals supplier Sibelco. The Cheshire-based firm now runs 68 tractor units and 125 trailers with many running around the clock and covering up to 220,000km per year.

"The days of having a quiet period during which we sweep up the workshops are long gone for this company. Everything has to be planned into the normal working week, from the maintenance of the vehicles right down to little things such as when the buildings are painted—it's all managed around keeping the vehicles on the move."

John Huddleston does his thinking at night because of his customers who are driving the 24-hour haulage business.

"Our customers dictate when we do things and as with most hauliers we aim to fit ourselves around their needs. If something's got to be done they look to us to get it there regardless of whether it's supposed to be a quiet period or not."

Huddleston is fortunate in that he has a mixed fleet.

"The vehicles with Hiab cranes tend to be on call throughout the year so there is always something to do. In general, the maintenance of the vehicles is fitted around work and is often carried out at weekends—busy or not," he says.

No more go-slow

One company that has noticed a significant change in the amount of business done in January is Kent-based international operator Croome Gold Star Logistics.

"Three or four years ago we usually had a quiet period straight after Christmas, but not any more. This year has been particularly busy and by the middle of the month we will be running at full capacity," says transport manager Chris King.

Again he reports all maintenance of the firm's 55-vehicle fleet is built into regular schedules and any slow periods are used to examine company procedures.

"If we get a lull it tends to come in March and we use the time to examine our routeing and scheduling systems to see where we can make them more efficient. However, if the rest of the year carries on like this one has started, it may be a while before they get looked at again."


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