‘Too little, too late’ from Olympics organisers...
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By Chris Druce PALLETLINE MD KEVIN Buchanan has attacked Olympic Games organisers for doing too little, too late to ensure road freight can be delivered consistently throughout the games period.
“It is ill thought out by people who don’t understand freight movements, who don’t understand the importance of them.
“All they [the organisers] were focused on was the importance of having people moved – the people who want to see the Games and the athletes – and they didn’t think until the last minute how the Coca-Cola and crisps were going to get to the places they need to,” Buchanan says.
Buchanan says hauliers typically need to do two to three drops in London to make it worth their while. Due to congestion this summer, they will be lucky to make one, he adds. “The problem starts with Locog (London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games). Transport for London has done an OK job at trying to pick the bones out of it, but it was too late. It should have been communicated much earlier.
“In the end, haulage companies and their customers will pay more money and will have a massively disrupted service. So the cost will sit with the haulier again.” Palletline has been brieing its customers and says most accept the period will bring exceptional challenges for hauliers. The network has ensured its 66-haulier members have Olympics contingency plans in place. It has introduced night-time deliveries where appropriate and has members outside of London prepared to provide support to those within the city, if required.