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WORKING
Page 52
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lirIF' Nigel Kirkwood, technical director of Tachograph Analysis Consultants, spends much of his time ensuring digital tachos will work for your trucks when they are introduced...
• If you would like to feature in Working Week please fax your details to features editor Patric Cunnane or Kicky Clarke on 020 8852 8912 or phone 020 8652 3678.
MONDAY
I start the week by walking around the office exchanging pleasantries with our tachograph analysts and computer programmers. This is a good way to get feedback about things generally and is something I do as everyone settles in for the day.
A management team meeting at 9.30am sets priorities for the week. This meeting is not allowed to last for more than an hour. Everyone leaves knowing what has to be done, by when, andimportantly—by whom.
Next is a thorough check of items needed for the meetings in Brussels tomorrow where we will be discussing the implementation of digital tachographs.
Spend the rest of the morning finalising the Digital Tachograph Roadshow which is taking place soon with Siemens VDO, the tachograph manufacturer. The rest of the day is allocated to customer relations and taking calls from transport operators looking for practical solutions to complex issues ranging from drivers' hours law, to fleet planninc: and computer systems purchase.
TUESDAY
It is an earlier start than usual, catching the first flight out of Manchester to be in Brussels by mid-morning. At the top of the agenda is the possible delay to digital tachographs for technical reasons. Later in the afternoon, we have a meeting with the French Transport Union. It is important to be aware of digital tachographs from a technical and end-user point-of-view as, quite often, they are different. Appreciating both, and in different countries, helps understand what is required to produce the best possible implementation and training strategy.
A rush back to the airport finds the flight has been delayed. More time to order drinks in several different languages!
WEDNESDAY
Today is court case preparation day. These have to be planned weeks in advance. The tachograph charts associated with the case which we requested from the police have arrived. This case is particularly high-profile and the charts may prove to be crucial evidence. They were delivered, in person, by a police officer and need to be escorted at all times. The officer stays for the day while we undertake a detailed and sometimes painstaking analysis.
At 6.45pm the final double-checks are completed on the analysis and we add recommendations for the barrister. The police officer leaves with the charts. The next time we meet will probably be in more official circumstances—with me as an expert witness.
THURSDAY
Research and development meeting first thing. There are massive changes in the industry and we have formed alliances with key industry players to help roll-out the new technology: it is our turn to host the meeting, so breakfast needs to be laid on for the attendees.
The rest of the day is scheduled for new and existing customers. Customer relationships are critical and e-mail has helped enormously; TAO has been using e-mail systems since 1982. Today e-mails have been received from EU member states and other places as diverse as Canada and North Africa.
FRIDAY
Another early start to deliver a bespoke training session for the management team at a major logistics company. Today's session examines the strategic implications of current and future legislation—the Working Time Regulations, the Training and Equal Treatment Directives, the new Employment Act and, of course, Drivers' Hours Law and Digital Tachograph Regulations.
While these subjects tend to be thought of separately, in strategic terms they are all linked. The aim of the day is to review the company's current strategic plans against the latest information from Brussels. Following a de-briefing session with the operations director. I return to the station to catch the train back. It is a three-hour journey, so there's plenty of time to write the operational review report of the day's training for the company and catch up on those ubiquitous e-mails. Isn't technology a wonderful thing?