est ad lib of the Road Haulage Association conference last
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week came as chairman Bobby Heaton launched the RHA's BS5750 video. It begins with an infuriated customer trying to get through to a fictional haulage firm whose phone rings and rings, an illustration of how sloppy office practices can lose you customers. "Hello, Heatons," quipped a wag from the audience after the eighth ring.
1H he Hawk's desk is in
danger of collapsing
under the weight of three copies of Seania — 100 Years, the latest tome from the Swedish vehicle manufacturer which celebrates its centenary this year. The large-format book has more than 250 full colour pages, including fold-out illustrations tracing the history of Scania engines. A must for the Scaniaphile.
To win one tell the Hawk the name of Scania's hometown in Sweden. Answers on a postcard by 1 November, please.
11 pswich-based owner-driver Geoff Fiddament has plenty of fuel for nought as the winner of the Iveco Ford/Mobil Oil free dery competition. Fiddament, and his wife Joy, recently collected the prize at Commercial Motor's offices from IFT's advertising manager David Martin (far left) and Mobil's card marketing manager Nick Gregg (second from right). CM's editor Brian Weatherley (far right) looks on.
Fiddament reckons that his prize — a Mobil agency card credited with 1,666 gallons — will last him at least nine months. He operates a Perkinsengined 6x4 Cargo 2417 on contract to Redland. othing could be more apt than the haulage industry helping to protect endangered species. So it is fitting that United Transport Logistics delivered the world's largest greeting card on World Animal Day (4 October).
The 40x7m card was made for Pedigree Petfood whose Fund for Nature Appeal aims to raise £100,000 for five endangered species. The cheery chappy pictured is UTL driver Geoff Cowley.
A Ian Newell, a
driver with Ipswich-based haulier Ferrymasters, received a puzzling call on his cab phone during the Labour Party conference.
While he was trundling up the M6, Roy Hattersley called soliciting his opinion on suitable general election dates.
How admirable, you might think, for the deputy leader of the Labour Party to seek the advice of an ordinary worker on a matter of such great political importance.
Alas, the true explanation is that Newell's cab phone number was given out by mistake. Calls should have gone to David Hill, the party's press officer.
It is not known if Hill has been inundated with requests for back-load operations.
Uis not every day that the police are forced to leap aboard a moving milk float to end one of the most unlikely vehicle chases.
But this is what happened when tipsy Cornishman Mark Bonham hijacked the float in Camborne. Putting his foot down, he eluded a pursuing patrol car by zig-zagging and trying to ram it as he reached milk-curdling speeds of 801cm/h (50mph).
Eventually a brave officer boarded the float when it was forced to slow on a hill.
Bonham has been banned from driving for a year and has been ordered to do community service for taking the float without consent, and driving recklessly with excess alcohol and without a licence.
hitbread beer delivery driver Nick Cox has won the UK Lorry Driver of the Year award, competing against 60 other top wheelsmiths at the final in Telford.
He wins a luxury holiday to New York, including flights by Concorde and tickets for a Broadway show.
In the Hawk's day you'd have been grateful for a wet Wednesday in Wigan, return trip by coal wagon, with a night at Old Mother Riley's piano bar, if you were lucky.