Red star rising
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Croome International began regular runs into the former USSR just as demand for haulage to and from the region began to rise. Now 25% of the company's turnover is generated in Eastern Europe, but hauliers working these unsettled areas need to keep their wits about them...
In 1990 Sheerness-based international haulier Croome International extended its European operation to include Russia. A year later its drivers found themselves sharing the streets of Moscow with tanks during the attempted coup which followed the arrest of President Gorbachm
The drivers were in no danger, according to managing director, David Croome, "but we worried about what was going on out them". In the event drivers and vehicles returned unharmed.
"If the anti-Gorbachov coup had been successful the Soviet Union could have reverted to its previous situation," says Croome, who is careful not to place too much of his business in a region which is still politically unstable. At present 75% of the company business remains in Western Europe with 25% going into Russia, the Ukraine and Poland.
Since the abortive coup and formation of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Croome sees plenty of room for growth. Demand from existing customers backed up by his own sales research into new business points to a 25% increase in Russian loads, with a projected 30% increase elsewhere in Europe.
The move into Russia began when a freight forwarding agent with whom the company was dealing wanted to send freight into the old Soviet Union. "Very quickly we were sending four to five trucks a week," says Croome.
This spring the company gave its Russian operation a boost by investing £500,000 in four Volvo F12s and 16 swap bodies from Dutch bodybuilder Heering. The fleet now stands at 24 wagon and drags, 10 demountables and two artics: the workforce of 33 includes 28 drivers. Croome has been buying Heering equipment for two years and although he can now get similar equipment from UK bodybuilders he continues to favour the Dutch drawbars: "They have been building this equipment since the mideighties," he points out, "and the designs are proven."
Another Dutch company, Estepe, adapted the units by fitting top sleeper pods, ARB retarders and trailer couplings. The 5.8m bodies have a bar-type double floor system that can be set anywhere wii bin the 3.0m height "The bars can be used for load restraint, extra flc ors or hanging garments," says Croome, adding that the bodies are insulzaed to cope with extremes of heat and cold.
Drawbar u-iits
were introduced into Croome's fleet in 1985 whoi its drivers lobbied for them after seeing them in use on Dutch and French vehicles. "They could hold double the capacity of our 12m trailers and we had a suitable customer base of lighweight commodities, such as healthcare products," explains Croome.
They carry an enormous range of products into Russia, offloading mainly in Moscow, St Petersburg and Kiev: "They produce virtually nothing for themselves," says Croome, "so the whole range of office equipment goes out there, including faxes. When factories are set up--often as joint ventures with the west they need everything to stilt a factory: machines, fork lifts, cardboard cartons for packaging." Add consumer goads and clothing to the industrial freight and it is easy to see why Croome is kept busy.
Plenty of othc. hauliers have spotted the opportunities: "A tremendous amount of wheeling and dealing goes on," says Croome. "There are a phenomenal number of French, German, Dutch and Swedish vehicles down there."
Croome picks up regular backloads from Russia and the Ukraine. Many trade fairs are held in Russia leading to a demand for returning exhibition equipment to the West. There is a trade :n raw products: "One of our importing customers has factories in the Ukraine and Russia producing cotton which comes into the UK for manufacture," explains Croome.
But inexperienced operators can face problems with scheduling in the CIS countries. "A driver can be near the end of his hours yet two to three hours away from the nearest town," says Croome. "You need the right quantity of fuel because there are not garages every few miles. Even where garages exist they do not necessarily have fuel."
In Croome's experience border delays can range up to six days at any of the half dozen crossings into Lithuania, the Ukraine, Russia and Belarus: "These borders are congested most of the time," and he warns that the situation is likely to worsen as more Baltic states set up frontiers with Russia and the other independent states.
None of this is helped by the appalling wirers when temperatures can drop to 40°C, risking vehicle breakdown and worse.
If all this wasn't bad enough, drivert park unwisely are likely to have thei raided at night by gangs of youths Croome's drivers park only at sect parks or in the depots of friendly tra firms. The company rarely sends curtainsiders to these countries and, has avoided losing any loads.
The business depends on employi intelligent, resourceful drivers and p them with good equipment. Croome majored on Volvos since the busines in 1972: "The trucks are reliable and back-up service is reliable, even in R he says.
WORKING LIFE
The business has occupied most of! Croome's working life since he set it a six-year stint with forwarding age Transport; his first job on leaving sc first he had a partner but the two fel Croome ended up taking over the wl business. At the time he had two tra, six trailers, and relied on owner driv the mid-seventies the firm switched employing its own drivers "so that provide the right level of service".
It moved to its Sheerness depot fn Rainham in 1979 and, buffeted by tv recessions, has yet to upgrade its off facilities from a portable building w outside toilet.
This year the company will finall] out on an office and truck washing f helped by a predicted turnover of a profit of .£500,000.
The business was given a boost m, opening of the Single Market: "It wa: leap for mankind," says Croome. "1 f fleet had increased by 20% because time saving on vehicles and doctune especially in places like Italy. In my experience, it's the best thing that's happened in this business."
It remains to be seen if the Chanm will increase those benefits but Croo certainly use it for some of his busin a guaranteed operation; we will be a schedule our vehicles with absolute , to arrive in Paris at 8arn the next mc by Patric Cunnane