Will you be one of the thirty?
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collected at this side by a Renwicks tractive unit. With careful scheduling the tractor which, on either side of the Channel, delivers an export trailer should collect an import trailer. Although the Renwicks group have headquarters at Paignton in Devon, their international traffic is controlled from Bradford.
At first reading, the thought of embarking on such a wide range of group activities may frighten the operator who has been used to working vehicles in the close confines of his own county and surrounding districts. Renwicks started in just that way. Nor should inexperience be a deterrent it the other members of the group are carefully chosen for their experience in the type of transport to be engaged on. The success of the venture undoubtedly depends largely on the experience, knowledge and ability of each member.
Provided care is taken in selecting associates, there should be no need for mass recruitment of a management team. Renwicks' vast organisation recruited only three key men from outside their acquisitions in their expansion pro. gramme.
Next step
Looking to the next step of expansion, the group has started in a very modest way to develop Continental refrigerated haulage. It has acquired Walter M. Hatton Ltd of Southampton, which operates 14 refrigerated vehicles on crossChannel work. The Hatton experience is being used to plan the development of this traffic and soon Renwicks will be looking at the feasibility of expanding the road fleet and owning and operating their own ferry service.
In addition to their fleet interests, Renwicks are a DAF truck main dealer. "Who better to know what an operator needs than another operator?" asks Ray Dillon. Who, indeed? This is modest expansion and diversification for any established haulage group, and one which should show more than modest returns if properly handled.
If Ray Dillon's forecast of 30 large groups materialises there's room for about 20 more now. Whatever happens, it seems that this is the time to start regrouping and consoli• dating—because there are obvious short and long-term advantages in group working.