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Haulage Interest in the Roadrailer

7th July 1961, Page 32
7th July 1961
Page 32
Page 33
Page 32, 7th July 1961 — Haulage Interest in the Roadrailer
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Bird's Eye View

SINCE at was first introduced, the Pressed Steel Co., Ltd., Roadrailer has remained an intriguing idea to combine the best of the road and rail haulage worlds. It was not the first road-rail hybrid nor, I imagine, will it be the last. But where has the past 18 months or so, since it was announced, taken it?

British Railways some time ago ordered 50, delivery of which will start early next year; but arc road transport operators interested, I wondered. The company tell me that, so far, no orders have been received from road haulage operators, although a great many have expressed interest in the project.

Steamers Again

TWICE in the past few weeks I have had cause to bring 1 up the subject of steamers in this column. Now, at the risk of being labelled an enthusiast, I must allow another one to trundle in.

The other day I received from Mr. A. H. L. Thompson. the Foden publicity manager, a picture of a 1916 Foden in front of which are that grand old man, Mr. William Foden (who is still active as governing director), his sons, R. G. and J. E. Foden (joint managing directors), Mr. D. C. Foden (J. E.'s son) and his son, Hugh.

I was pleased to see that the steamer still wins prizes at rallies around the countryside.

A30

"HE real answer to traffic congestion is to limit the number 1of vehicles on the road." This remarkable statement was published in the July issue of the T.G.W.U. Record, in an article by a Mr. Len Cottrell, who also vouchsafes this little homily: " Most of the criticism (or should it be abuse?) that is hurled at British roads seems to come from people who nave not looked very deeply at the root of the problem.'

People, I presume, like hauliers and C licensees, busmen and traffic control experts. People, indeed, such as the considerable body of drivers who. like Mr. Cottrell, are members of the T.G.W.U. I was, therefore, surprised that the Union printed what was virtually an attack on members' livelihoods. General Industrial Cleaners—" G.I.C. " as they are generally known—operate a service that in many respects is novel, at any rate to me. The essence of it is the supply of three free overalls each to the workers of client firms, with one steel locker. At regular, frequent periods, G.I.C.'s vehicles collect the garments for cleaning and return them when cleaned. The service is virtually country-wide--you can see the vans with the firm's insignia as far away from Borrowash as Ferryfield Airport in Kent, where Silver City Airways is one of their clients.

"One of the fundamentals of the whole operation is regularity. The cleaned overalls must be on the client's premises on the day and time stipulated. If not, there's no worth-while service. That's why our vehicles are run as closely to schedule as a passenger transport system. If, for example, I happened to be on London's Old Kent Road at a certain time I could say with certainty that in 10 or 15 minutes one of our vehicles would pass me."

Today Turner's company occupies large premises in the Village of Borrowash just outside Derby. Altogether more than 450 people are employed but so efficient is the organization that one is not conscious of any bustle and certainly not of any disarray. But this substantial concern has virtually been built up only since the end of the war, though in fact is was founded in 1939. Expansion has been swift. At first Kenneth Turner, as general manager, had to turn his hand to all kinds of jobs—selling, meeting new clients and confirming old ones, smoothing out technical hitches in delivery and collection, sometimes, perhaps, taking a look underneath a van, and at the same time (in concert with his Board) making policy decisions and sharpening up the general organization. Today he is the managing director, the captain on the bridge, who expects that each of his subordinates will do the job entrusted to him without continual prompting.

Likes His Employees It is one of his more illuminating characteristics that he likes his workpeople very much indeed. "All the talk about British people not working hard, the kind of loose talk you sometimes hear in pubs, is in my opinion, just so much boloney," he told me.

Another key to his outlook is his enthusiasm for cricket (he is proud of his son's prowess in the game, too). In his garden there are three sets of practice nets, in which he sets a good example to members of many British cricket clubs. I must add straight away that he is himself a member of the Derbyshire County Cricket Club Committee and a playing member of the G.I.C. and Friars Cricket Clubs.

He is an enthusiastic traveller. He delights in taking his family in the ear to Europe, wandering from place to place, not always with any preconceived schedule, and taking a gourmet's interest in the food and drink of the country. He likes fast cars and is a reliable fast driver though he confesses that on holiday he is no believer in rushing about and covering as many miles per day as his Mark IX Jaguar will take him.

The industry recognized his worth and ability by making him president of the Traders Road Transport Association. He was appointed a member of the East Midland division of the T.R.T.A. in 1949 and in 1954 became vice-chairman of the divisional committee. Three years later he was is chairman. As long ago as 1949 he became a member of the national council as an East Midland representative. In 1957 he was elected one of the Association's vice-chairmen.

The key to success? Modestly he describes it as hard work first and foremost, analytical ability (to enable a man 4o get at the fundamentals) and courage to act on the results of analysis. So success is reached in the business sphere by energetic, courageous and informed action. H.C.


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