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LAW OF THE JUNGLE With regard to small firms living in the dark ages (CM - 11-17
Page 36
Page 38
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April), Whether a company avails itself of any or all aspects of modern technology does not in itself confirm that company' ability to succeed.
One presumes that City Trucks and Enron were full of the latest technology, but where are they now?
There is no commercial justification for purchasing an Aston Martin for ajob that can be carried out quite adequatei with a Ford Fiesta, and if certa companies elect not to equip themselves with any or all of th available technology that is their decision.
For as long as the company can sell its services for more than the costs / incurs it will succeed and survive. When it cannot, the marketplace will bring about its demise. UK PLC will not suffer, because with each failure another hopeful wi surface.
It would be enlightening if wi could be appraised of the commercial credentials of the personnel involved in the study referred to, together with the actual recommendations they made before arriving at their conclusions, Ongoing success is a function of commercial acumen, integrity and plenty of good luck. In certain circumstances, state-of-theart technology can be beneficial—but only if commercially justified.
As to the suggestion that thE government uses some of its .2-100m fund for the modernisation of the road haulage industry in sending each and every haulier on a negotiating course, I think this would only benefit a small number of operators.
For a win/win result to arise from a negotiation it requires that both parties to the negotiation be of similar strengths. The fragmented make-up of the haulage industrl means this is usually not the case, hence the industry's very poor economic returns.
The law of the jungle still applies to road haulage as it hat done so from the outset, with the latest reported high-profile example being the ongoing situation between Hanson and its owner-drivers.
Perhaps, given enough time and a continuing drop in the number of people wishing to be drivers, the industry will rationalise into larger units and produce a higher quality activity. But then again, elephants may fly!
JD Barber,
Shepley, Huddersfield.
lost people moan about le dirt and pollution that trucks reate, but Ben Long wallows in . He's set up a gallery at the lew Covent Garden market, there he can frequently be pund in the early hours using is finger as a paintbrush to ketch pictures into the road Ith on the back of trucks.
The 23-year-old artist says 's great that his work gets riven around the UK and has ecome a travelling exhibition r people to see, but admits la he does get sentimental 'hen he sees one of his ictures being washed away ith the road grime. He was ?,cently nominated for the 110,000 Prospects drawing prize and while we're not entirely convinced, it certainly beats long-standing filthscrawled favourites like "Also available in white" or the wittyas-hell "Clear me!".
We all get had hair days. but in the States they have to go one step further. A short-fused driver in the Land of the Free faces the chop after he tried to drive his pickup into a barber's shop window because he hated his haircut.
The manager of Fantastic Sam's salon in Post Falls, Idaho, refused to give Paul Peyton a refund on his new cut, but instead offered him a second (presumably shorter) style. Unfortunately the second coiffure failed to cut the mustard and Peyton stormed out, only to reappear with a screech of tyres careering towards the window.., but stopping just inches short.
The perpetrator now faces up to five years in jail and a fine of £3,400—which does seem a little hard on a failed ram raider.