AT THE HEART OF THE ROAD TRANSPORT INDUSTRY.

Call our Sales Team on 0208 912 2120

PO in tachograph row

10th May 1986, Page 4
10th May 1986
Page 4
Page 4, 10th May 1986 — PO in tachograph row
Close
Noticed an error?
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.

Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

• The Post Office's decision to place the first tachograph retrofitting contract for its parcels trucks with Lucas Kienzle has plunged it into a row with Veeder-Root, the only manufacturer of tachographs in Britain.

Veeder-Root managing director Alec Dawson, speaking in Glasgow last week, accused the Post Office of "working hard not to buy British" by buying tachographs from West Germany and said it will be "suicidal for British industry" as he believes his firm needs a strong home market base to support the 70% to 80% export business for its Dundee factory.

Dawson said: "Nationalised British companies like the Post Office should think very positively about buying British, just as Marks and Spencers do. This simply wouldn't happen in Germany, Japan or even the United States."

He said the original quotation to the Post Office was submitted 18 months ago and was described at the time as "highly competitive".

Changes in drivers' hours rules have since extended the compulsory use of tachographs to parcels vehicles following representations from the Road Haulage Association, and as a result, in January the Post Office called for a new tender.

Although Veeder-Root had submitted its offer for 2,000 tachographs by the required date in February, this was extended at Lucas Kienzle's request.

On Easter Monday, Veeder Root was told that its bid was unacceptable. After probing the Post Office further, Veeder-Root was told that its bid was less competitive than Kienzle's on the grounds both of cost (a figure of between £50,000 and <£75,000 was mentioned) and slightly later delivery.

Until then, the Post Office had been purchasing from Veeder-Root. Leyland had "large number" of trucks ir stock with the company's tachographs already fitted.

Dawson claimed that the would now have to be char over to Lucas Kienzle at considerable expense to Leyland.

Veeder-R000t, it says, cannot deliver until next ye The Post Office says the vehicles were bought with tachographs only because il would be more expensive t buy them without.

The Post Office told CM that it is anxious to suppori British industry, but the Li Kienzle tender meets all of requirements for price, product, specification and immediate delivery.

The Post Office has beet given until April 1988 to fit tachographs in all parcels trucks over 7.5 tonnes and until December 1989 to fit them in 3.5 to 7.5-tonners. anticipates fitting them in about 4,000 of its existing vehicles.

Lucas Kienzle managing director Fred Kay told CM "Freedom of choice is something to be valued by customer."


comments powered by Disqus