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Beefermen freeze out the cowboys...

21st October 1999
Page 11
Page 11, 21st October 1999 — Beefermen freeze out the cowboys...
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by Ouy Sheppard Reefers could be refused entry to cold-storage depots under a new vetting scheme designed to clamp down on cowboy operators.

Transftigoroute UK, which represents 120 companies in temperature-controlled distribution, says its "Ban the Bandits" initiative is a common-sense way to improve across the industry, Members are being asked to monitor all vehicles arriving on their premises to ensure they have a current Operator's Licence and tax disc. Checks on vehicle roadworthiness may also be introduced.

Transfrigoroute company secretary Liam 011iff says: "We are very much hoping that all our members will be on board with the campaign this side of Christmas. It is not going to be time-consuming but it is one of those things that helps send a signal to all parts of industry. It will draw people's attention to the subject of not allowing operators with sub-standard vehicles on to their premises."

He adds that member companies are already being encouraged to conform to a written set of standards covering operational procedures. "This initiative falls in line with our high standards ethic," he says, "It is not any form of radical or revolutionary idea."

Graham Eames, vice-president of Transfrigorotrte International, says the idea still needs to be checked out by lawyers, but it has been used successfully in Holland against an international operator which used unfair means to compete against rival companies.

Eames adds that his own company, Pulleyn Transport of Reading, has about a dozen vehicles visiting its premises from outside businesses so the vetting process will not be too onerous.

• A freight exchange service for temperature-controlled distribution is to be launched on the Internet early next year. Transfrigoroute UK, which represents firms in the sector, says the annual subscription for its Cool Net service will be around £350.

Company secretary Liam 011iff says it will provide a far quicker and more efficient way of finding loads and backloads. "For a pound a day you have limitless access to a whole marketplace where people can come to you and you can go to people," he explains.

"Traditionally what happens in the traffic office is that people sit there all day on the phone with their special little book of inky numbers ringing round mates," he adds.

011iff predicts that anyone who needs to move a consignment at short notice will be able to find and arrange the delivery through Cool Net within five minutes without ever picking up the phone. "Once people are familiar with the process of using the medium then the sky's the limit," he says. "There are so many other things you can start doing with it."

The service was showcased at Transfrigoroute's annual general meeting and is expected to go on fine in February.

IIII Last March the Road Haulage Association launched an Internet-based backload service called Roadrunner.

Tags

Organisations: Road Haulage Association
People: Liam, Graham Eames
Locations: Reading

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