Jonathan Jempson is managing director of Jempsons based in Rye,
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East Sussex. The company operates a fleet of 70 vehicles and 150 trailers on general haulage and carrying plasterboard and building materials.
Monday
Started the week at 08:10hrs by opening the post, of which 20% was unsolicited. Tried to contact three customers with regard to seasonal price increases; they were unavailable so I sent them letters. Saw fitter who has given in his notice to try to get him to change his mind as there's a serious shortage in this area. Sandwich for lunch while reading Croner Transport Briefing. Dictated letter to employee re non-performance and other letters about rates, pensions, tenancy agreements, a charity donation, a reference and software queries. Finished about 19:30hrs.
Tuesday
The post included two letters about an insurance claim which had to be investigated and replied to. Checked haulage quotation before it was submitted, checked that advertisement had been placed in local paper for replacement fitter. The office has still not recovered from changing to new software on 1 May because of the need to input all the data. Spent morning inputting prices into computer. Sandwich lunch reading Commercial Motor. About 13% of our fleet is operated on contract hire and its term expires over the next 12 months so am collating quotations to enable a decision to be made on whether to stick with Mercedes. Left at 17:00krs to play tennis.
Wednesday
Post included questionnaire from valuation office about a property, the address and location of which were insufficiently defined for identification, so replied to that effect. Today is external quality audit day. Read Motor Transport over sandwich lunch. Authorised new compressor for shot blast purposes. Dug out licence and tenancy agreements to photocopy and send to my agent and solicitor to enable the former to review rents which have dropped below market levels. Saw quality auditor who only had one or Iwo minor non-conformances to bring to my attention. More computer work. Finished at 18:30hrs.
Thursday
Saw new *driver as part of usual induction procedure. Saw junior operative from paintshop to monitor performance which has significantly improved since our previous meeting three months ago. Sent letter to third party who is claiming for a damaged gate which we maintain we have repaired and has been hit and damaged again since our repairs. Authorised extra phone line for fax/modem for our Palletways office. Caught up with "Roadway" over sandwich lunch. Saw local Leyland Daf sales manager to discuss the purchase and the sale of vehicles on contract hire basis. Checked positioning of specially deepened company decal on sloping wind deflector on new drawbar unit. More computer work. Finished at 18:00hrs.
Friday
Have succeeded in winning seasonal contract to deliver blackcurrants across farms—mainly in Gloucestershire— which should keep us busy for the next six weeks or so. The work will be administered by a semi-retired transport manager who used to manage the business with his previous employer. Met him this morning to prepare him for his new venture. Succeeded in getting price increases from all three of the customers I wrote to on Monday. Sandwich lunch over boring property document. Spent most of the afternoon scanning property covenants, plans and deeds relating to property purchase and arranged to meet solicitor on site next week to get a clearer picture. Finished 19:00hrs.
Saturday
Unexciting post but still enjoy opening envelopes containing cheques! Prepared cashflow forecast which I find essential for capital expenditure planning. The good news this morning is that one of our drivers who was intending to leave because of the long hours involved has applied for our fitter vacancy. Off to visit my ageing Mum—won't be back till Monday„ • If you would like to be featured in Working Week fax Nicky Clarke on 0181 652 8912.