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UK Truck Sales Director MAN Truck & Bus UK Ltd Set to Retire MAN Truck & Bus UK Ltd says David Cussans, UK Truck Sales Director MAN Truck & Bus UK Ltd, is to retire before the end of the summer, having worked with the MAN brand over a period spanning 33 years. David joined MAN in 1988as a National Fleet Sales Manager and has subsequently held a number of board positions in the UK company. Between 2010 and 2017 David worked for sister brand Scania, as Regional Executive Director and member of the Scania GB Executive Team. In 2017 David returned to MAN as UK Truck Sales Director and is a director of MAN Truck & Bus UK Ltd.
Director MAN Truck & Bus UK Ltd, said: “David has had a long and extremely successful career in our industry, and his input to the success of this company has been invaluable.
Thomas Hemmerich, Managing
David commented: “I have been
“However, after decades of working in the business, David has now decided to take a well-earned break and we all wish him all the very best and thank him for his remarkable contribution.”
incredibly fortunate to have worked in such a dynamic and colourful industry, and to have met and worked with so many great people. I have always loved the MAN business and product range and I am proud to have played a part in the development of the UK company. “Thanks to the focus, commitment and engagement of the whole team and the entire dealer network,
Overcoming driver shortages by improving delivery efficiency The UK’s HGV driver shortage is becoming increasingly concerning, with, what Andrew Tavener, Head of Marketing, Descartes UK, calls the ‘perfect storm’ of Brexit, Covid-19 and growing demands exacerbating the problem. He refers to numerous reports of the lack of qualified drivers creating difficulties for the logistics industry, which is having a severe impact on many different sectors, including retail and manufacturing. “With fresh food rotting while supermarkets and restaurants are facing shortages and shoppers facing higher prices for goods, these issues associated with driver shortages are becoming more and more problematic. “A drop of 15,000 UK truck drivers following Brexit coupled with nearly a third of the UK’s 300,000 drivers now over 55 and heading for retirement, means that the shortage has become critical. The industry needs to act now. “So, what remedies can retailers, distributors and delivery companies put in place to combat the fallout from such a crisis? Training
and attracting new drivers is not a quick or simple fix but one solution that can make a difference now is to utilise advanced routing and scheduling software to unlock greater efficiency gains whilst minimising the need to recruit new drivers. Companies can transform performance and maximise the utilisation and efficiency of their existing drivers and vehicles. “Route optimisation software can increase the productivity of existing drivers, with improvements in route quality and delivery schedules. Collating deliveries close to each other together, improves delivery density and makes daily trips less hectic, reducing driver stress and maintaining compliance with drivers’ hours legislation. This all helps to retain drivers, “From integrated transport management to leveraging and sharing real-time data
we have made huge progress in all areas of our business, and I am sure that the solid foundations will continue to be built upon and lead to further success.” He has been succeeded by Matt Squires, who first joined the MAN dealer network in 1996 as a technician, as we report on page 10.
across the supply chain, transport operators and retailers can better manage assets and achieve the ‘do more with less’ mantra. “Combating the driver shortage is essential, but is not a challenge that will be solved overnight. Fleet operators therefore need to get the most out of the resources they already have, but without overstretching their drivers or compromising safety and compliance. So, to get the industry moving again, and to keep it efficient in the long term, technology solutions can go a long way in supporting fleet operators to go the extra mile.”
Getting into gear Advanced route optimisation software allows transport operators to use fewer vehicles to deliver more goods in fewer miles. “These solutions ensure that now and, in the future, companies will have less demand for drivers because they are maximising their fleet’s potential. “In order to get more from your existing drivers, keep them happy and reduce driver turnover, logistics companies, including hauliers and delivery services should consider implementing routing and scheduling software now. After all, this is an opportunity for companies to capitalise on demand by increasing operational efficiencies.”
Thermo King to Develop Bachelor of Engineering Degree in Automation & Robotics Thermo King is to collaborate with Galway Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) in the development of a Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) in Automation and Robotics, building STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) skills in the local community. The initiative includes the design by Thermo King of a special robotics automation training centre at their manufacturing plant in Galway. This new bachelor’s degree will result in a major upskilling in engineering, automation, and robotics capabilities
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within Ireland and beyond. The creation of skills like this will empower ThermoKing to future proof for continued innovation and continue to be a leader in its ever-increasing electrified portfolio of transport refrigeration
solutions for road (trucks, trailers, bus) air, ocean, and rail. This project is supported by the Irish Government through IDA Ireland. Commented Minister of State and Galway TD, Hildegarde Naughton: “This is a very exciting
move which I am sure will bolster Galway’s place on the world map for engineering and automation. I would like to congratulate everyone involved in bringing this project to its fruition, particularly the team at Thermo King and the Galway Mayo Institute of Technology.”
