Pay row could hit Jet fuel supplies

By Carol Millett

Jet garages across the UK are facing fuel shortages this spring as JW Suckling Transport tanker drivers ballot for industrial action in a long-standing pay dispute.

The 30-plus drivers, who are members of Unite, are based at depots in Essex, West London and Grangemouth. The drivers undertake work as part of the Phillips 66 contract, which supplies fuel to Jet Garages.

Unite said that despite extensive negotiations, JW Suckling Transport has refused to increase the rates of pay of drivers on the contract so that they are compa-

Traffic commissioner Nick Denton has warned that skip and grab hire firms using restricted licences to transport waste must upgrade to a standard national licence or risk having their licences revoked.

The clampdown follows a recent public inquiry in Cambridge over the business activities of Leicester-based Wigston Skip Hire. The firm tried to apply for a restricted licence so it could hire out skips and then transport the waste to

Farmers opt for Fruehauf tippers

Co-operative business Openfield is taking delivery of 36 sloper smoothsider tippers from Fruehauf as part of its fleet expansion plans.

The organisation, which is owned by around 4,000 British farmers, sells approximately 17% of the UK marketed grain every year to some of the largest food and drink brands, as well as being one of Britain’s largest grain exporters.

rable with drivers employed by other hauliers on the same contract. It claims that the drivers are paid over £5 less an hour than other drivers for undertaking the same work.

The ballot for industrial action opened on Thursday 9 February other companies’ waste transfer stations. and closes on Thursday 9 March. If the workers vote to go on strike then industrial action could begin before the end of next month. The strike action would affect fuel supplies to Jet Garages across Scotland and from Southampton to Norwich.

Wigston’s owner James March argued that all skip hire businesses in his area were operating under a restricted licence.

The company’s transport consultant claimed “requiring Mr March to apply for a standard national licence would put him at a competitive disadvantage”. However, Denton refused the application and said it fell foul of the licensing requirements.

Openfield is also a national fertiliser distributor and manufactures and delivers seed to farmers. It started receiving the 72cu m trailers towards the end of 2022 at its Lincolnshire headquarters.

Further new tippers are due for delivery every month through to July, joining a mixed fleet which has grown by more than 40% as the farmer-owned co-operative expands its grain marketing and input deliveries business.

Hireco engages ‘industry heavy hitter’

Contract hire and rental specialist Hireco has appointed Jason Chipchase as UK contracts manager.

He joins the Purfleet-based company after more than 17 years with Krone Trailers in area sales manager positions.

His experience also includes sales and warehousing roles with Gray & Adams and Zebra Technologies.

Commented Kelly Finnegan, Hireco brand and marketing lead: “Signing this industry heavy hitter into the team shows the intention and ambitions of Hireco and gives Jason the opportunity to flex his industry muscle.”