TPN names new ops director

Richards appointed as operations director following lengthy search

Industry veteran adds experience in TPN role

By Carol Millett

The Pallet Network (TPN) has appointed industry veteran Bob Richards (pictured) as operations director. Richards takes on the role that Mark Kendall vacated last January when he replaced Mark Duggan as MD.

TPN’s new operations director will take responsibility for the day and night operations at its Minworth hub, and its regional hubs in Preston, Northampton and Coventry.

Richards brings 30 years of experience to the role. Previous posts include general manager at David Hathaway Transport, divisional general manager at Palletways, general manager at Bidvest, and head of central operations at hygiene specialist PHS Group. He has also worked for Christian Salvesen, TDG, Heinz and Pall-Ex. Most recently, he ran his own logistics consultancy, Jacs Innovations.

Richards said: “What impressed me was the culture and embedded values of the business. It’s a busy environment, but it’s clear that TPN people are happy to be here and strive for excellence because they believe in it.

“TPN has a young and promising operations team and I am excited about the opportunity to help them grow and develop.”

MD Mark Kendall said: “Finding someone to fill your own previous position, who you trust will make it their own, is always a special kind of challenge.

“I’m confident that Bob’s extensive experience and his obvious commitment to creating operations, which are values- as well as results-driven, will make him a huge asset to TPN and a great fit for our culture.”

Grieving family press for action on load security

The family of a man killed when a lump of concrete fell off a wagon and smashed through his windscreen are promoting the importance of securing loads.

Steven Oscroft died last year when a rock fell from an HGV in Meden Vale, Nottinghamshire and landed on his car.

Police arrested the lorry driver on suspicion of dangerous driving, but he was released without charge after a serious collision investigation concluded there were no offences against him or the haulage company, Paul Wainwright Construction Services.

However, a coroner said action needed to be taken and he called on the DVSA to clarify legislation around securing loads.

Gordon Macdonald, head of enforcement policy at the DVSA, said drivers, operators and consignors all play a part in safe loading. “DVSA is revising the guidance available on load security to ensure those involved in loading vehicles are fully aware of all safety requirements, and the implications of choosing to ignore the guidance,” he said.

Downes Transport reunites with its Pallet-Track ‘family’

Downes Transport has returned to Pallet-Track just over a year after it left the network for UPN.

The Wiltshire haulier said the return to the pallet network it had previously been a member of for 14 years was like “coming home to the family” and it commenced covering the SP postcode from 4 October.

Downes Transport director Craig Downes (pictured with Pallet Track chief executive Caroline Green) said: “Like Pallet-Track, we pride ourselves on service and quality and we know this is a perfect partnership.

“Being part of a network such as Pallet-Track gives us the strong footing we need to continue providing an outstanding service to our customers, in light of the unprecedented challenges our industry has faced over the last 18 months.”

Green said she was delighted to welcome the haulier back.

In 2020 Downes Transport left Pallet-Track and joined UPN after being given 12 months’ notice by the network.

Pallet-Track declined to comment on the reasons behind this.

Picture: Shutterstock

Booker drivers agree new pay deal

The threat of strike action among HGV drivers at Tesco-owned wholesaler Booker Retail Partners has been lifted after drivers accepted a new pay deal.

The Unite union said industrial action was cancelled following a vote on the offer from the company.

The long-running dispute involving all 40 drivers at Booker’s Thamesmead depot centred on what they claimed was a failure of the Tesco subsidiary to include them in a temporary £5 per hour pay uplift, which the company had granted to drivers at its Hemel Hempstead site.

Unite regional officer Paul Travers said its members voted “overwhelmingly” for the new pay deal.

“It is a good deal that owes much to the solidarity that our members displayed during the dispute,” he added.

“The details of the offer remain confidential. Our members are working normally and we wish to have a constructive dialogue with the management as we move forward.”

VOX POP Should the Driver CPC be suspended and revised?

Kevin Buchanan, group chief executive officer, Pall-Ex

The most important thing is for government departments to get back to work and deal with the backlog of medicals and applications; this will create around 20,000 drivers.

The CPC needs reforming in any event and was responsible for seeing a large number of older drivers quit when it was introduced. I would be in favour of a suspension for 24 months while it is reviewed and made more meaningful as part of creating a more structured career for drivers, which will help the perception of it as an option for young people.

If we had a licence grading system right up to graduate, which entitled the driver to be paid more as they became more qualified, this would help create a clear career path and also reduce insurance costs for operators when they employ the highest-graded drivers.

Stuart Charter, MD, Aztek Logistics

No logistics business would oppose the suspension or a permanent moratorium on the CPC as it was this EU regulation that probably did most to create the driver shortage in the first instance. It created one regulation too many for a large swathe of drivers who simply retired or got out of the industry when faced with having to review their competence every five years – as well as pay for the privilege!

It is also ironic that it has taken the government – so keen on jettisoning what it sees as Eurocratic red tape and retaining sovereignty over our law-making post-Brexit – this long to recognise this as a potential solution.

Moreton Cullimore, MD, Cullimore Group

The drivers’ CPC as a shortterm measure should be suspended for 6-12 months. In the experience of my company, it would allow a couple of drivers to return to work more quickly at a time when we need everyone we can get. These drivers are experienced and took a step back during the Covid-19 lockdowns to be with their families due to age and their higher risk level. It would allow them to return more quickly.

The whole drivers’ CPC is a main contributing factor into the attrition rate of people leaving this job and seriously needs to be looked at. I am all for training, but the way it is imposed and taught is antiquated and not effective in today’s industry.

To deal with the shortage problem we will need several such measures, many of which are contained within the RHA’s 12-point plan on this subject sent to government back in June.

Clive Brooks, MD, ABE (Ledbury)

I am a supporter of the DCPC in general, although I believe the ‘refresher’ hours should be reduced to make it more practical. We had many enquiries from retired drivers, in response to Baroness Vere of Norbiton’s letter to all HGV licence holders, looking for some part-time work, but they were all put off by the need to complete 35 hours of DCPC. It would be a great short-term help to have the need to hold a Driver Qualification Card suspended, on the basis that the employer has a robust induction process.

Bob Terris, chairman, Meachers

Anything that improves the availability of drivers would be helpful. In the long term the whole situation with licensing, CPC and training needs to be reviewed. We should not overlook the very substantial amount of money our industry pays into the training levy, which could be recycled to improve the spend on driver training.

Europa Showfreight lands win treble as crowds return

Europa Showfreight, a division of Europa Worldwide Group, has signed three events partnership deals with exhibition agency Human Built, event organiser Prysm Group and aircraft supplier AV Buyer.

The deal with Human Built will see Europa Showfreight deliver logistics for the agency’s entire event portfolio, including shows such as EMEX 2021 and AM Live 2021, which take place at ExCeL London in November.

Exhibition organiser Prysm Group has appointed Europa Showfreight as the sole official logistics contractor for several of its events to provide worldwide transportation solutions, temporary and permanent imports, unloading and reloading, on-site handling and empty case storage.

Upcoming events include Farm Business Innovation and Holiday Park, both taking place at the NEC, in Birmingham in November. Europa Showfreight will also be the official logistics provider for the White Label World Expo at Excel, in London in March 2022.

AV Buyer, which offers a range of aircraft for sale, has selected Europa Showfreight as its logistics partner for the 2022 Aeroexpo and Rotortech shows at Cotswold Airport next June. n Europa Worldwide Group has

promoted Europa Road’s northern regional sales manager Adrian Redmile to the role of branch network and sales director. He replaces Dionne Redpath, who has become chief operating officer.

Hermes gets ready for festive season with new southern sites

Parcel delivery giant Hermes UK is set to open a new distribution depot in Test Lane, Southampton ahead of the peak season.

The company said the 118,000sq ft facility will create 20 new permanent, full-time jobs and over 80 seasonal temporary jobs. It will be opened as Black Friday and the Christmas peak period approaches.

The new facility will be able to handle over 180,000 parcels each day and has the ability to operate around the clock seven days per week.

Hermes is also opening a new distribution depot in Valor Park, West Thurrock.

Over 60 permanent jobs have been created at the 157,000sq ft warehouse, which will be able to handle over 220,000 parcels per day and will also have the ability to operate around the clock when needed.