Still going strong
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Celebrating 40 years in the business, Stan Robinson has seen it all ... and done it all. CM finds out what his take on today's road transport industry is.
Words: Roger Brown / images: Nigel Spreadbury
HAULAGE HAS always been a hard game, but Stan Robinson has nothing but sympathy for anyone looking to build up their own haulage firm from scratch in today's economic climate.
The boss of the eponymous Staffordbased company, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. tells CM that he "doesn't envy" any newcomer trying to build up a business.
-It would be difficult for a one-manowner-driver to develop in a similar way today," he states. "When I started out, back in 1970, at the age of 28 with just a single wagon, there weren't all the rules and expensive technology such as mobile phones and vehicle tracking etc.
"I really don't envy someone trying to start up today," he says with a mixture of relief and regret This is a sobering warning from the plain-speaking Robinson, who entered the industry by following in his father's footsteps His dad ran a coal wagon around Staffordshire.
After leaving school. Robinson worked in the farming industry for about 10 years, driving and managing routes. before setting up on his own.
Solid foundations
With the recession taking its toll, the issue of operators being asset-light has been hammered home. Understandably, Robinson is proud that his company owns, rather than leases, 44 acres of land and has purchased its 180 trucks.
"It is important to build any business on solid foundations," he says. "We have been lucky to be able to avoid signing up to hire-purchase deals, or leasing or renting equipment and buildings.Although having trucks stood still is had regardless of whether you own or rent them, it's an easier situation if there are no payments outstanding on long leases.
Make no bones about it, Robinson's 38th and 39th years in business have been played out in some of the toughest market conditions imaginable.
This is borne out by the company's accounts: for the year to May 2008, although turnover rose to £18.1m (from £16.8m the year before), pre-tax profit fell to £395,862 from £609,479.
"Similar to other haulage firms, we need more work," he says of the current trading situation. "We make less profit now than a few years ago, but with a higher turnover.
"It's sad, but firms like ours can pick up work and carry more stuff through other firms going out of business."
Any new business, Robinson says, is likely to come from its traditional mix of chemicals, plastics, cattle feed, adhesives and building products.
The haulier mainly runs around the UK, and has 265 staff, including 180 drivers, working at its depots in Stafford. Glasgow, Darlington and Willand in Devon. It's a geographical spread that allows it to cover key customers and the majority of the UK on an express basis.
Robinson continues: "We can get to anywhere in England in four hours.
The 'right' concept
Longer. Heavier. Vehicles. Three words that he has thrown his support behind.
The longer heavier vehicle (LHV) prototype Robinson has developed could provide the cause with "a big boost'? It is a 33.5m-long truck that consists of an -11-axle or 12-axle 84-tonne combination of two 13.6m semi-trailers linked by a trailer dolly
In 2006, a Road Haulage Association (RHA)-supported application to the Department for Transport to use the vehicle on the roads was rejected.
"The vehicle is designed for highvolume trunks with pallets, and would he restricted to licensed routes running from depot to depot on motorways and selected trunk roads," he reveals.
But what does he make of Denby Transport's rival concept?
According to Robinson, the design promoted by Dick Denby the Eco Link eight-axle, 60-tonne,25.25m double trailer is the "wrong one".
"I like Dick's idea," says Robinson. "but my LHV is more acceptable to the government because it can be easily separated into two conventional artics for final distribution and deliveries.
"With Denby's concept, you only get a 50% or 60% rise in payload. Ours is a 100% payload increase."
As for another burning topic in the industry the privatisation of VOSA testing stations Robinson hopes to take advantage and is building a facility complete with inspection pits and sheds.
His test station due to be completed by April or May is costing £250,000 to build, but Robinson believes it will be worth every penny in the long run.
"We have a local [test] station that could close in the next three years," Robinson reveals.
Robinson also believes that VOSA could eventually use it as a base to carry out its roadside checks on vehicles.
This is an example of Robinson's ability to adapt to an ever-changing industry and to see chances where others may only see problems. • rptFOR THE LATEST HEWS VISIT: www.roadtransport.com