1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144 
P LETTER OF THE WEEK
Page 16
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Saying goodbye to Rod Abrahams, who had road transport in the blood
A SPECIAL FRIEND and colleague passed away on 28 September after battling cancer for almost two years. Rod Abrahams' funeral took place on 5 October and was attended by more than 200 of his family, friends, and transport industry colleagues.
Road transport was always in Rod's blood. He first became a driver alongside his father, then, due to his ability to manage people, he worked his way up through the ranks, and, in 1980, achieved a managerial position in TNT at its Luton depot.
Rod's leadership skills helped him to quickly increase the level of business at the depot, after which he was promoted to the position of national operations manager.This is when I first met Rod, who became my boss in 1982. Along with his promotion, his new responsibilities included the launch of what was then the most technically advanced automated hub in the UK.
Rod's abilities were further recognised, and he was promoted to an international operational role for TNT outside the UK.
Rod left TNT and went on to manage the operational needs of Target Express, Red Star, and United Carriers. In 2002, he moved to Fortec as managing director, and helped turn it into one of the most respected pallet distribution networks in the UK.
Rod had a huge knowledge of the industry, as well as the ability to manage a team in a way that looked easy... but it never was.
Not only have I lost a boss and a colleague that I had an enormous respect for, but also a very special friend.
Rod leaves a widow, Sue, and three children, Lucy, Laura and Sara. Alan Parker Former director of engineering TNT Express