Standing charge threat
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• A haulage firm which was kept waiting to unload for more than 14 hours by a supermarket chain is threatening to take legal action unless it is compensated for lost wages and standing time.
Hepden Transport of Stokeon-Trent was scheduled to deliver a load of mineral water to William Morrison Supermarkets' distribution centre at Wakefield on 16 December.
Driver Andy Rosochacki arrived at 13:15hrs but did not leave until 03:30hrs the next morning. As a result he was forced to take a day off.
Keith Hepden, owner of the 10-vehicle operation, says he is invoicing Morrisons for 12 of the 14 hours at £20 an hour — based on his driver's wages and standing time for a 38-tonne artic. "Morrisons is directly responsible for my lorry being there for more than 14 hours. It is no one else's fault," he says. Hepden claims his artic queued behind more than 100 other trucks: "If Morrison says it is not responsible I will take it to the small-claims court," he warns.
Supermarket chains account for up to two-thirds of Hepden's work in the winter months and about half the rest of the year.
Morrisons released a state ment saying: "Should this company contact us directly we will then take a look at the issue. Other than that we have nothing to say on this matter,"