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SQUINTING AT THE LIGHT
Page 9
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Mr X tries hard to find some positive things to say. And he very nearly manages it.
I am conslaally being accused by the younger types around me of being the archetypal grumpy old man. The trouble is, this haulage/transport/logistics business we are in seems to breed a particular gloom of its own. Rarely, if ever, will you hear positive, upbeat statements being uttered by those who sign the cheques. Any hype and optimism is generally reserved for the sales and marketing crowd, kept at a comfortable distance from reality.
So in a pensive, postelection moment, I tried really hard to come up with a few positives for us to look forward to. I first thought about the VVTD. The main point here is that it is not the end of the world. It's probably more workable than we first thought, but for sure, the cost is already significant and none of us has completed our first reference period yet!
I detect an easing of the shortage of drivers, that's very good news. Maybe it's the number of East European drivers appearing all over the place? Will all truck drivers soon arrive equipped with digital communicators, personal navigation systems and unpronounceable names (I admit that it's a failing on my part, but Polish lessons weren't an option in my day). If it stops the regulars moaning and jumping ship at a moment's notice, then that's good news.
Anyone unfortunate enough to have to use agency drivers may like to take solace from the good news that competition has finally had the last word and the extortionate rates charged by some are being negotiated downwards.
It's also good news to see headlines appearing recently over delivery times. It really is high time we stood up to what I call the cancer of just-in-time and next-day delivery. We, as an industry, have allowed ourselves to be manipulated into performing daily miracles of logistics, in order to underwrite the ineptitude of the supply chain. With a relaxation of deadlines we might actually make some money!
it is time we stood up to t cancer of just-in-time, inst of underwriting the inep of the supply chain"