The Recession Bites Harder – No CV Show

January 16, 2009 By

The two latest victims are JPM Eco Logistics and Birmingham NECs Commercial Vehicle  show.

JPM based in Oldham are famous for their funding via the Dragons Den, where they secured £100 from Deborah Meaden and Theo Paphitis. I can recall thinking at the time, just becuase they are green, it doesnt mean they will be ethical and they will make money. In fact their poor management  has put their biofuels supplier in a very tough position.

MPB BioProducts have filed for a winding up order if they are not paid.

The company received a winding-up petition shortly before Christmas from biofuel supplier MPB Bioproducts.

Although this has now been stayed until February, the Gainsborough-based fuel producer says it is owed more than £20,000 dating from last June.

MPB’s MD Philip Bates adds: “I have been chasing since then – they promised me the earth, but I have received nothing.”

Bates says the debt means he has been unable to produce any further biofuel from the plant. “They have totally messed my finances up,” he adds.

JPM’s business proposal was based around being an environmentally responsible haulier, using 100% biodiesel to power its trucks. On the Dragons’ Den show in 2007, bosses Jerry Mantalvanos and Paul Merker promised fantastic returns on investment, well above the industry average of 4%.

Source: Road Transport

I wish MPB well, and I hope they can get through this. I am not sure about JPM, I am not convinced throwing money at the problem will find a solution. Much of the thoughts in the industry around this are that if the business was sound, they wouldnt have struggled so much.

Many transport industry professionals enjoy the CV show and this is a real blow to the industry.

The carmaker crisis claimed another victim when organisers slammed the brakes on this year’s Commercial Vehicle Show at the National Exhibition Centre.

The annual three-day event, one of the biggest in Europe, was cancelled after truck and van manufacturers pulled out.

Organisers said this year’s show, due to run from April 28 to 30, was to have been revamped and scaled down because of the slump that has hit commercial vehicle manufacturers and components suppliers throughout the world.

Companies that paid for their stands will be reimbursed and plans are being made to reinstate the event next year.

Last year’s show, one of the most successful in the event’s ten-year history, attracted more than 28,000 visitors.
About 290 exhibitors had expressed support for this year’s event, which was to have refocused on engineering, compared with 600 normally.

Source: Birmingham Post

Obviously Truck manufacturers don’t have the money for these kinds of exhibitions, I wonder what they plan to so instead?

Sarah

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Corporate Manslaughter – what it means to a courier

January 8, 2009 By

There have been many discussions about the Corporate Manslaughter Legislation and the effect it will have on the way courier businesses operate.  Most of those discussions are based on a best guess scenario and assumptions.

I will not be making guesses at an eventual outcome, but I can give you guidance on the processes involved should a collision occur and then I will give you some guidance on what steps you can take to prevent your courier business falling foul of the Corporate Manslaughter Legislation.  The investigation is a defined process and will follow structured path of evidence gathering with witness and suspect interviews.  As a business you are in the suspect category from the outset.

Take the following example of a road collision.  It is a typical collision that happens on the roads in the UK on a daily basis.  Vehicle One is owned by the company concerned.

Circumstances of the crash:

  • Vehicle One: SUV – 6 months old – 32,000 miles – Never Been Serviced
  • Vehicle Two: Supermini – 3 years old – 36,00 miles – Full Service History
  • Time of Collision: 0840 hrs
  • Weather Conditions: Wet

Injuries:

  • Occupant Vehicle One: Driver: Male 47 yrs: Bruising, Minor Lacerations and Whiplash
  • Occupant Vehicle Two: Driver: Female 28 yrs: Declared Dead at the Scene
  • Occupant Vehicle Two: Passenger: Male 3 yrs: Severe Head Injuries

Vehicles:

  • Vehicle One: Found to Have Two Defective Tyres
  • Vehicle Two: No Defects Found

There is also some additional information that you need to consider.

  • The driver of the SUV was previously driving a 5 door executive car.
  • The drivers licence was checked upon joining the organisation 18 months previously.
  • The driver did not have the vehicle handed to him in a documented manner, nor were the driving characteristics of the SUV explained to him.
  • The vehicle is owned by the company.
  • Maintenance is organised by the individual drivers
  • The driver had 9 points on his licence for speeding.
  • The driver did send in mileage reports every month, detailing business and private miles

The next step in the process will be covered in the blog www.yourroadrisk.co.uk and will describe the way the Police and Health & Safety Executive will deal with your business.

If you are worried in the meantime, please get in contact with us.

Nigel Grainger

Senior Consultant

Fleet Risk Consultants

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A new look Courier Shop

January 8, 2009 By

A big thank to Barbara Saul, the internet marketing strategist for working a miracle with the Courier Shop for us. Thank you doesn’t cover the work you did for us at short notice… I shall find another way too.

Image of Barbara Saul from Twitter
Image of Barbara Saul

Please bear with me a few days whilst I get the copy and the pages for our associates up and running. I aim to get the books back online this evening – the Complete Courier Guide (for freelance / self employed couriers) and the Sales Success for Couriers book – the brilliant book by leading sales trainer Linda Mattacks.

Thanks

Kevin

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Sign up to our mailing list

November 13, 2008 By

We have some really exciting transport / driving  related projects in the pipeline. We could love to keep you updated and give you the first opportunity to try these when they are released.

We would love to keep in touch with you, please sign up to our monthly, spam free newsletter and we’ll give you a free copy of Twitter for couriers in our first newsletter.

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Look forward to sharing all the exciting stuff in the near future.

Return to the page you were on by using your back button or the navigation bar at the top of this post.

Sarah

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Filed Under: Courier Shop Admin

Thank you

June 18, 2008 By

for purchasing The Compete Courier Guide.

You have taken a positive step towards setting up your own courier business either as a freelance courier / self employed owner driver or as a courier company.

If you are having trouble activating your book, and have followed the instructions in my email, you may find this page helpful.

We wish you well in your new business ventures.

Kevin Arrow

Owner of Arrow Light Haulage & The Courier Shop

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