REMOVING THE OLD-FASHIONED IMAGE
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by Johnny Johnson The removals industry has more than its share of family firms but that is not to say that the business approach of these is hidebound and conventional. F. W. Shaw and Sons (Worthing) Ltd typifies the modern and progressive thinking of many companies of a similar nature.
IN the haulage industry there are many companies which can truly be described as "family" businesses and the removals industry perhaps has more of these than general haulage.
Quite undeservedly, the term "family firm" often conjures up an image of a rather hidebound organisation more than a little conservative in its approach to business methods.
In fact, many of these companies are the innovators of the industry eager to use the most modern methods and introduce new ideas of doing things.
Such a company is the Worthing based removals organisation of F. W. Shaw and Sons (Worthing) Ltd whose principals make use of a private aircraft to help their business and foster good staff relations, operate a regular twice-monthly removals service to the Continent and have employed what they consider to be one of the first apprentice removals operatives in the country.
Shaw's really came into existence in its present form only about 64 years ago when the failing company begun by Des Shaw's father was taken over by Des on his release from the RAF.
Over the past few years, the company has acquired fresh office and storage premises and is now operating eight vehicles with capacities ranging from 650cuft to 2,000cuft.
Perhaps some measure of the care that the company lavishes on vehicles and staff alike can be gained from the fact that one of the larger pantechnicons is a 1965 Seddon which regularly undertakes the continental run without giving the slightest cause for anxiety.
Demonstrative, too, of the company's application of new ideas is another of its vehicles which has been converted from boxvan to Luton to Shaw's own specification by Caffyns Ltd of Worthing.
Not only has the bodywork been converted and a rear extension built on but a retractable ramp has been built into the rear. This is mounted on small wheels which run along the longitudinal chassis members under the floor and is• easily positioned to allow furniture to be carried or harrowed into the body and then retracted for the trunking operation.
In the Luton, crew sleeping quarters have been installed comprising two-tier bunks, washing facilities and a cooking stove.
As well as undertaking re movaIs within the United Kingdom Shaw's operates a regular twice-monthly service to and from Germany principally for Service families but available to others if required.
The route passes through Belgium and Holland and caters for postings to and from RAF Wildenrath, Rheindahlen, Bruggen, Laarbruck and other outlying areas. The collection and delivery in Germany is on the first and third Tuesday or Wednesday of each month.
Shaw's consider that this regularity is important and will spare no pains to ensure its reliability to the extent of running empty one way if needs be though this eventuality has not yet arisen in two and half years of operaion of this service. However, the outward journey does not necessarily involve furniture transport and has consisted of coffee, tea, carpets and even car rustproofing equipment.
Clive Shaw told me that his company knows that others are operating and advertising regular continental removals services but they are not so precise in their collection and delivery dates which can sometimes be as far apart as from the first of the month to the end. Thus, a prospective client might receive a posting on the first of the month and, anticipating an early collection on the Continent, pack his belongings immediately only to wait two or three weeks before the removals vehicle called.
Two charges
With Shaw's service, the customer knows precisely when he will relinquish his possessions to the remover and can plan accordingly.
The service and charges are divided into two parts; the journey from the continental originating point to the firm's Worthing depot (or in the opposite direction) and redelivery or collection in the UK. As far as the continental operation is concerned, the tariff is built on modules of 50cuft.
Redelivery or collection in the UK is carried out on a part load basis and charged on the recommended part load rates of the British Association of Removers of which the company is a member.
Shaw's has its own agent in Germany and manages all its own Customs clearance and documentation.
Backing up this unusual ap proach to continental removals is the company's own private aircraft. Both Des and Clive Shaw are former RAF pilots so that it is not strange that they should quickly see and exploit the advantages that this form of travel and communication holds.
Perhaps one of the drawbacks of a continental driver's life is the possibility of being delayed over the weekend because he is unable to move his vehicle on continental roads from Friday evening till Monday morning. While the occasional continental weekend might be fine for the holiday maker, the road haulage driver inevitably finds that the novelty wears off.
Shaw's realise this fact and arrange for the crews to be picked up by the aircraft and brought home on Friday evening. On Monday morning, the crews again assemble and are ferried out to their vehicles.
Of course there are financial benefits to the company as well as satisfaction for the vehicle crews. It is much cheaper to operate in this way rather than pay men weekend rates and subsistence for two unproductive days.
Moreover, in one of the company's operations, it is convenient for the company to pick its men up in Holland and then return them on Monday to continue another leg of the journey to Germany. However, the men find that there is a certain cachet in being able to explain to other, less fortunate, vehicle crews "Our firm flies us there and back."
As well as collecting and delivering the crews to save them being away from home during the weekend, the aircraft is also available to fly spare parts and a fitter to any vehicle which finds itself in trouble on the Continent. Clive Shaw told me that this had not yet arisen either but it was a comforting thought that speedy means of getting a vehicle moving again was available if it was required.
In keeping with the cooperative spirit of the remov als industry, Shaw's have announced to other removers on more than one occasion that their aircraft may be used by other companies for the transport of spares in similar circumstances providing it is available.
Because the aircraft is a private plane and not commercial, Shaw's could not charge for this service but they would expect to be recompensed for the fuel and so on and would expect the user to make a contribution to charity—a not unreasonable expectation.
Professional
Conscious of the good relations which exist between management and staff at Shaw's, Des Shaw is a passionate exponent of education and training and an even more enthusiastic supporter of the idea of professional qualifications for the removal man.
The company has engaged 16-year-old Peter Ford as one of the first apprentice removal operatives under the scheme designed by the Road Transport Industry Traning Board in collaboration with the removals industry.
Naturally, the new young driver training scheme is an important part of the curriculum but, as Des Shaw asserts, there are many more skills to be learnt than merely driving.
The removals apprentice scheme is so designed, however, that the employer is able to train his apprentice in just as many of those skills as he chooses. Thus, the apprentice might be taught the skills of porter, packer and driver or any combination of those three. There are others to be learnt also according to apti tude.
The professional approacl to the industry is another mat. ter which deeply concerns Des Shaw. One of those asked by the DoE to comment on its latest consultative document on access to the profession al road haulier, Des expresses doubts about the relativity of that scheme as it applies to the removals industry. He would like to see some acknowledgment of the special. ised nature of the work and a realisation that operators of vehicles below 31 tons gross can advertise their vehicles as available for household removals even after the Transport Managers' Licence is introduced.
Good thinking
Unless some method of discouraging this practice is found, the professional approach which the Transport Manager's Licence seeks to foster will be nullified as far as the removals industry is concerned.
Here, then, is one family firm which is not only alive to the use of modern aids and equipment for a more efficient organisation but has the kind of forward thinking which makes for a better industry and more cordial industrial relations.