Jim Trusswell, newly elected chairman of haulage consortium the Transport
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Association, says being the best is more important than being the biggest..
• if you want to sound off about a road transport issue write to features editor Patric Oilman or fax your views (up to 600 words) to kicky Clarke on Dill 652 WE.
id I have recently been elected chairman of the
Transport Association, a self-help group of 60 progressive, efficient and well-known road transport and warehousing companies in England. Scotland and Wales, most of which are family owned (for further information contact TA secretary Peter Acton on 01737 362232). The TA is at an interesting time in its 50-year history.
FE, The road haulage industry faces unprecedented challenges p, from the Government in terms of fuel price rises and hikes in
drop sizes and a higher number of deliveries a day. Many haulage companies have already gone to the wall and more will follow, unable to adapt to the changing situation.
I believe it is the well-established, regionally based haulage businesses that can rise successfully to these challenges. They have the right ingredients to succeed in this highly competitive, changing environment: they all have a strong operational transport background; they know how to run transport; they know how to use their fleets and assets efficiently; and they have a close relationship with their customers. If things go wrong there is someone on the phone who has a vested interest to sort out any issue. This is critical for customers.
Transport Association members are progressive. More and more we are embracing the power of information technology to deliver significant efficiency gains. We recognise that IT can get us even closer to our customers. For 50 years our regionally based members have in the main provided collective operational support to each other in terms of fuel, overnight stops, vehicle maintenance and other facilities. In more recent times we are working together to provide innovative solutions to customers' issues. I see this as a growing trend.
Being the biggest is not always beautiful, but being the best is very important to our members. There are many examples in our association where co-operation between members is delivering a higher quality customer service at competitive prices.
Hauliers are not afraid of competition—as long as it is fair. We want to see the best get better by working with our customers, the Government and any other interested party in order to make the most efficient use of resources. It is the medium-sized haulier, who has the entrepreneurial skills, the flexible resources and knowledge of the business, who will be the real winner in the long term.