Back from the brink
Page 2
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They say a picture tells a thousand words, and without wanting to talk down Commercial Motor’s finest prose, seeing one of Milltech Haulage’s vehicles ablaze after an arson attack (see p6) is in equal parts terrifying and heartbreaking.
It says everything for the spirit of the road haulier that Milltech has vowed to trade on despite the devastating losses caused by this senseless act of violence. Milltech
boss Greg Dukes’ suggestion to livery his new fleet with a phoenix rising from the flames makes the hairs stand on end for everyone who has trucking in their blood. CM wishes Dukes all the best as he puts his business back on the road.
Road hauliers have suffered inordinately over the past few years, but now they are all coming back fighting. This week the great and the good of the industry gathered at the NEC in Birmingham for the return of the Commercial Vehicle Show the first ‘full-fat’ show since 2008.
It would have been easy for those at the show to attend in doom and gloom, worried about the cost implications of the impending introduction of Euro-6 or uncertainty over the introduction of longer semi-trailers, but the show was well attended and full of real, serious solutions to the problems operators face every day in their business. That and a healthy selection of the newest trucks and vans made for an unmissable event.
It was heartening to see Transport Minister Mike Penning drop by the CM stand and say the government would look to smooth the introduction of Euro-6. Turn to p8 for our CV Show round up.
Finally, we are giving away 300 pairs of weekend tickets (p7) for this years’ British Truck Grand Prix, sponsored by Renault Trucks, to CM readers. Lucky winners will receive a pair of hospitality passes for the weekend. Good luck!
Christopher Walton