Bulgarians 'not doing UK work'
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by David Craik • Michael Stevenson, managing director of freight forwarder Davies Turner, has denied that his company is offering internal UK distribution work to Bulgarian truck operators, despite claims from several hauliers to the contrary.
Stevenson says he would crack down heavily on any of his company's transport managers offering domestic delivery work to foreign operators—and he stresses that it is "highly unlikely" that any are doing so. "It is outside our company practice," he adds.
But one operator, who does not want to be named, says he took on a subcontracting load for Davies Turner last week and insists that Bulgarians are handling UK deliveries out of Davies Turner's Manchester depot. He says one load of his was close to being moved from his truck to a Bulgarian's wagon last Friday in Manchester for onward delivery to Leeds, and was only halted when another load for the Bulgarian became available. "This is my last load for Davies Turner," he says.
Other hauliers have complained this practice also happens between Dartford and Bristol. Only EU-registered trucks can legally handle domestic haulage in other EL countries.
Stevenson asks any haulier who has any query or issue with Davies Turner to contact him personally to discuss any problems. "We will nail any problems they have together," he promises. "We are a very open company."