Informed discussion: it't a promise for FMC '82
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Delegates can put in written questions in advance at this year's Fleet Management Conference. 'What future has the RHA?"l; there an ideal vehicle?' What would you Ilk to ask?
THE 1982 FLEET Management Conference takes place on October 14 in the Royal Lancaster Hotel, London. Registration is now open; 250 delegates have already made reservations.
Brian Rigby, a deputy director-general at the Confederation of British Industry, will open the proceedings, which will be under the chairmanship of Sir Peter Masefield.
The views of the CBI, on transport matters, do not always coincide with those of transport operators, and Mr Rigby can be expected to get the conference off to a stimulating start.
The first main paper will be presented by Hugh Featherstone, directorgeneral of the Freight Transport Association and, the FTA's controller of planning and traffic services, Richard Turner. Both gentlemen are well qualified to discuss the case of the transport user and have done so before many distinguished audiences at home and abroad.
At the FMC they will be concentrating their presentation on lorry bans and other restrictions which impair efficiency in distribution. This is a matter which concerns not only users and suppliers of transport but everyone from manufacturer to consumer. The presentation is certain to raise many issues — on the environment, economics and politics. . at both national and local level.
Following a break for coffee, R. D. Yeomans, managing director of Wincanton Transport, takes up another theme — "Tachographs — tool or toy?" Wincanton is not only user of tachographs but it also operates calibration stations. Therefore the company sees the instrument from both commercial and operational viewpoints.
After more than a year's experience, how does Wincanton value the tachograph? We discussed the subject with Yeomans. He has firm views based on experience and supported by carefully documented records. What he told us encouraged us to believe that his presentation will give rise to a lively debate and could change many entrenched opinions.
The Employment Bill will be enacted before the conference. It has been well debated in Parliament and strongly attacked by the trade union movement. Greville Janner, GC, MP, has participated in the House of Commons debates; he has also spoken in the country and written many thousands of words on the subject.
At the FMC, Mr Jan ner will analyse the content of the Act in his own inimitable manner; he is a lively and interesting speaker. While delegates may not agree with his views, he is prepared to enter into debate.
David Howell, Transport Secretary, is coming direct from a Cabinet meeting to address the delegates after lunch. Mr Howell has already shown himself to be a lively and industrious minister. He has not been over-exposed to the transport community. "His digestive" should set the pace for the afternoon session.
The director-general of the Road Haulage Association, Freddie Plaskett, will present his relatively new view of t "Future of road transport and the RNA". Mr Plaskett will have been with the RH only 12 months when he speaks at FMC, but even nc his name is a household word in the industry.
He presents a discussion paper in a very forthright manner, but seasoned witi fine sense of humour. His plans to reorganise the RH, and put it on a slimming di have met with opposition. By the logic of his argumer he has persuaded his opponents to accept his plans. What lies ahead, we will learn at FMC.
Operators enjoy the opportunity to meet the vehicle manufacturers. Delegates will have this opportunity at the FMC when a five-man panel will introduce their subject in five-minute papers and the take questions. Peter Nevii (Ford) will chair this sessio which R. Wilsdon ummins), K. Parmee aton Transmissions), Bill ohnson (Norde) and Dr B. A. nett (Lucas) will irticipate.
The greatest value ot the 4C has always been the volvement of delegates. is year's programme is am n designed to encourage lively, informed discussion.
Those who register will receive the papers in advance and a preconference question form which invites questions in advance. This helps overcome the embarrassment that many feel at question time, and would otherwise lead to many important questions being left unasked.
The registration fee has been contained at £45 exclusive of vat. The fee includes entitlement to coffee, cocktails, lunch, afternoon tea and conference papers. The RTITB has accepted the programme for training grant for those in-scope.
Fees should not be sent with the registration form. We will issue a vat invoice. Fees will not be refunded for cancellations made after the papers have been issued. PHILIP KNOWLES has been promoted to area manager for the western area of North Western British Road Services. In his new position he will be responsible for the control of 220 vehicles and 200 staff at the Liverpool, Warrington, Runcorn and St Helens Branches.
South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive has taken on IAN DAVIES as district manager for Sheffield. He moves from Tyne and Wear PTE where he was chief operating superintendent and takes over from BOB ROWE, who has been acting district manager since last December.
JIM PATON, general manager of P&O Roadtanks, has been made responsible for the French general haulage and tanker company SATR1, with locations at Calais and Beaune.
Alder Valley, the National Bus Company subsidiary, has appointed ANDREW TAYLOR assistant traffic manager. He succeeds ALAN KREPPELL, who is moving to South Wales Transport. Mr Taylor joined Alder Valley in 1974 as assistant to the area manager, and in 1980 he became the company's operations officer.
HELEN EVANS has taken over responsibility for the day-to-day running of truck rental and driver hire activities for Planned Transport Services of Leeds. ALYSON ROUTH joins the company as internal sales administrator.
York Trailer Holdings has appointed ERIC NUTTER as group managing director. He was previously joint managing director of Anthony Carrimore.
JEFFREY CANEY becomes UK sales manager for Anthony Carrimore. He has had many years' experience in the hydraulics and automotive industries and was previously employed by Wraxhall Hydraulics and Bumman and Sons.
GEOFFREY COX has taken up the position of chairman of the
Leeds and Bradford Hauliers Federation. He succeeds DON ARCHBOLD, who has resigned.
The Moseley Group has taken back SYD FAIRLESS as group
marketing manager for the Northern region, after an absence of three years. Mr Fairless was formerly bus and coach manager with DAF Bus.
ERIC JOHNSON has been promoted to regional sales manager with Agent Aerial Access.
Brown Brothers has appointed PAUL EVANS refinish paint marketing manager. He joined the company in 1972 as a management trainee.
GEOFF CANNON has become chief design engineer at Wilsdon and Company of Solihull. He was previously chief development engineer with Crane Fruehauf.
Transport International Pool has appointed GEOFERRY CHAMBERLAIN market analyst. He will be based at TlP's British headquarters in Watford. He was formerly an economist with the shipping line Gotaas-Larsen.
The Worshipful Company of Carmen hosted a reception at the Mansion House on May 25 for the Lord Mayor of London, Alderman S1R CHRISTOPHER LEAVER. The guests, who included presidents and chairmen of the Chartered Institute of Transport, the Institute of Road Transport Engineers and the Institute of Transport, were received by the Master, JOHN WELLS.
Obituary We record with regret the deaths of JOHNNIE JOHNSTON and KEN
GRIFFITH S.
Dr Johnston was chairman of the Motor Industry Research Association and his contribution to the Association has been invaluable. Since 1970 he had been staff director of technology at the GKN Group Technological Centre at Wolverhampton, and at the time of his death he was also an Associate Member of the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee, a member of the Engine and Vehicles Working Party of the Department of Industry and a member of the Research and Technology Committee of the Confederation of British Industry.
Mr Griffiths was district manager for Sheffield for South Yorkshire PTE. He retired in December last year after months of ill-health. He was a qualified engineer and had spent a lifetime in the transport industry at Liverpool, Ashton-under-Lyne, Rotherham and Sheffield.