Euro driver swap saving jobs
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• Car transporter Walon is operating a temporary driver exchange scheme with its European partners to avoid making UK drivers redundant.
Walon drivers from the port of Imniinghani have already been to Germany for six weeks when UK car sales fell off after the August J-reg peak, and French drivers are being employed at Bristol's Portbury dock when work is slack in France.
According to Walon the number of drivers redeployed in this way is not large — up to 12 at a time — but it eases the pressure on local markets and keeps drivers in work.
Walon traded as Abbey Hill until its takeover by French group Causse Walon in 1990; the group has operations in eight European countries.
According to spokesman Malcolm Guthrie, the takeover provided new work through reciprocal arrangements with its partners.
The Bristol-based company plans to expand its operation at Portbury Dock after winning part of the Fiat contract from Toleman. The rest of the Fiat work is being handled by Autocar & Transporter, also of Bristol (CM 9-15 Jan), Walon is currently leasing an 1 lha site at Portbury West, which belonged to Nissan UK before it fell out with its Japanese parent company, and has an option on a further 12ha. It has bought Nissan's 17vehicle fleet and will be taking on 17 drivers.
Since 1 January Walon has been handling 40,000 cars a year for Toyota UK; it will use the new site to import 60,000 Novas from Spain for General Motors.
Walon is transporting 80,000 Opels a year for export to Germany from Vauxhall's Liverpool factory, and BMW has renewed its three-year contract at the port of Immingham.
ID Liverpool-based car transporter Silcock Express says that it is moving more Fords out of Halewood because of a boost in export sales.
In January Ford took 25% of the UK car market, and claims it exports more cars from the UK than Nissan builds here.