JWS News Bulletin Issue 50 - Spring Edition - April 2009

Contents

Welcome to Issue 50 - 1996, Gazza and all that

Welcome to the 50th Issue of the News Bulletin.  The first issue was produced in June 1996 and we have taken the opportunity, with the aid of our customers, to revisit some of the news articles from those past issues.

In June 1996 the national newspaper headlines were of England beating Scotland in Euro 96 with a fabulous goal from Paul Gascoigne [Editor note: remove reference to Gascoigne goal from Scottish Edition].

At Suckling Transport it was news of the first Driver of the Year award.  So no change there then.

 

Thank you to all those who contributed to our centrefold.

Great Scot!  Jim takes the prize

Jim Stephens (left) has won the Suckling Transport Driver of the Year Award for 2008.  In a close competition, Aberdeen based Jim collected the top prize of £300.00 ahead of Philip Rowland and Derek McGlashan, who collected £200.00 and £150.00 respectively.

The regional winners were Peter Collins (ConocoPhillips, right), who won the South East & Midlands region; Andrew Hatton (Shell), who won the West & Wales region and Kevin Tuff (Shell) who won the Scottish region.  Each regional winner collects £125.00.

The £100 contract winners were Richard Burrows (Shell), John Allen (ConocoPhillips), Mick MulQueen (Total UK), Steven Hyde (Petroplus) and Gregor McLeod (TankShare).

 Well done to everyone and good luck for next year.

Welsh Wizards

The drivers working on the Company’s contract with Shell at Cardiff Terminal received a special award from the Freight Transport Association this month.

 

Angela Whitehouse, representing the FTA presented the Tacho Compliance Award to Jeff Palmer and Neil Lewis on behalf of the drivers.

 

Angela commented ‘I’m delighted to present one of the first Tachofta Compliance Awards to the staff at your Cardiff depot.

 

The FTA’s Tachofta Compliance Award has been introduced to recognise the work the staff at the depot do to ensure compliance with current tachograph and associated legislation.  This is only achievable with all staff working together under good leadership.”

Issue 1 - June 1996

The first issue of the News Bulletin was largely given over to the inaugural Driver of the Year Award.  The eventual winner was Alan Bushnell, who worked on the Company’s contract with Phillips Petroleum. 

 

After a takeover, David Bonnard (right) now manages the contract through Petroplus Marketing.  “The Bulletin has always been an informative read, covering the important topics as well as the light hearted.  It also gives the unsung heroes of the business - the drivers and backroom staff - their moment in the spotlight”, said David.

One driver who picked up a prize in 1996 is Brian Ahern who now works on the Company’s contract with ConocoPhillips.

Brian (left) recently received a 5 year award from RoSPA.

Issue 10 - September 1998

In the autumn of 1998, the main topic of interest was Suckling Transport’s innovative Eco Guardian Project that was launched at the Barbican in London on 2nd September that year.

 

Shell’s Drew Donaldson was at the launch.  The Global Distribution Co-ordinator remembered the day well:  “With the launch of the Eco Guardian Project, Suckling Transport proved they were a forward looking organisation. A management style they have retained throughout Peter Larner's leadership. Many of the developments we now take for granted in the haulage industry, like ultra low sulphur diesel and synthetic lubricants, were ground breaking at the time.”

The Eco Guardian vehicle registration number S4FER was compared both on the road and at tests conducted by Millbrook Proving Ground against a standard, identical vehicle.

 

Before the project ended in the Spring of 1999, the specifications had become the standard for the industry.  Indeed, in September 1998 ultra-low sulphur diesel was not available to the public and, by the time the project ended six months later, this was the main type of diesel sold in the UK.

Issue 20 - August 2001

In the summer of 2001, the Bulletin focused on the TankShare service.  Futura Petroleum – now Harvest Energy – became the first customer of the TankShare service in Scotland.  They were quickly followed by Thames Petroleum.

 

The service continued to grow in the UK and the very first customer of the TankShare service even continued to use it when the supply of its product moved from the Thames to Harwich. 

 

Bayford & Company Limited had used TankShare from the outset to distribute leaded petroleum, used mainly by classic car owners.

'Tankshare was the perfect option for our new leaded petrol business as we needed a nationwide service with the flexibility of varying load sizes.

 

“The nature of the beast meant unpredictable volumes due to the weather and Tankshare could accomodate all our customer requirements no matter where in the country they were.”

 

Suckling Transport currently operates 9 TankShare liveried vehicles on this service.

 

Issue 30 - March 2004

Issue 30 announced the winners of the 2003 Driver of the Year award.  The competition was dominated by drivers working on the Company’s contract with Conoco – now ConocoPhillips – who claimed all three top prizes.

Rupert Turner, Manager Marketing, UK & Ireland of ConocoPhillips (left) commented: "Not only is it great to reminisce about the high standards set by our contract drivers back in 2004, but it is also extremely pleasing to see the continuing progress and focus on the Zero Incident Project that the drivers are bringing to our business today".

Scott Margetts (right) was the top driver for the ConocoPhillips contract at Coryton that year.  Scott is still employed on that contract and had another incident free year in 2008.

Issue 40 - September 2004

The big news in the Autumn of 2006 was the award of a contract at Kingsbury terminal.  The article announced that Suckling Transport had ordered five new DAF trucks for the new business with Total Butler, a subsidiary of Total UK.  The vehicles were to be the first Euro 4 models purchased by the Company.

David Hauff reflected on the changes:  "From Euro 4 to Euro 6.  Where will we be come Issue 100? The Suckling’s team of drivers, management and support staff are vital to the success of our partnership. 

 

“It is essential that we all keep safety at the forefront of our business, whilst continuing to deliver excellent customer service.  Congratulations on reaching issue 50!"

 

Issue 40 also included details of Suckling Transport collecting its third award in 5 years from the safety organisation Brake.

 

Suckling Transport will be submitting an entry for the 2010 Brake Awards and are hopeful that the ZIP project will manage to claim another prize.

 

Phase one of the Zero Incident Project will be closed out in June 2009.

The 5 question Interview

Editor of the News Bulletin and Personal Assistant to the Managing Director Susan Nicholas took the 5 question interview this time round.

 

What did you do before joining Suckling’s?

I was a Junior Secretary/Trainee Insurance Clerk.

 

What was the worst job you ever had?

I have to say my part-time second job at Evans.  I was only one of few members of staff who was bra-measuring trained. Let’s just say I saw some sights which I would rather forget.

What was the last CD you brought?

I think it was either Usher or Chris Brown.

 

What was your most memorable day?

It has to be my Wedding day in May 2007.

 

Where was the best holiday you ever had?

Best holiday was my honeymoon in Sri Lanka and Maldives especially visiting the Elephant orphanage in Sri Lanka.

 

Can you suggest an employee who should face the 5 question interview?

New structure for Driving Training

Following a review of the Company’s driver training requirements, Suckling Transport is to appoint two senior driver trainers for its contracts with ConocoPhillips and Shell (Dave Shaw, ConocoPhillips driver trainer below).  They will supervise a network of driver trainers at all main operating centres.

All trainers will be externally trained by Smith Systems before a full training programme for all drivers is rolled out.

 

The changes were considered necessary in order to take full advantage of truck technological developments and the introduction of on-board computers.  Senior trainers will be able to target their advice and instruction and effectively act as personal trainers to individuals who need help.

 

It is anticipated that the names of the newly appointed senior drivers and other trainers will be announced in the next News Bulletin.

Other News...

Safety Talks

The dates for Q2 : 2009 Driver Safety Talks are shown below.

 

SHELL

Hythe                     5/6th May 2009

Avonmouth           11th May 2009

Aberdeen          12th May 2009

Inverness          13th May 2009

Grangemouth      26/27th May 2009

Pembroke             1st June 2009

Plymouth           2nd June 2009

Cardiff              16th June 2009

 

CONOCOPHILLIPS

Coryton                 6th May 2009

West London     14th May 2009

Westerleigh         20th May 2009

 

PETROPLUS

Westerleigh          20th May 2009

 

TOTAL UK

Kingsbury              28th May 2009

 

Tacho Checks

The Freight Transport Association will be conducting their quarterly checks on Tachograph charts at our operating centres on the dates shown below.

 

Aberdeen  – Digitally sent

 

Pembroke – Digitally sent

 

Inverness – Digitally sent

 

Plymouth – Digitally sent

 

Avonmouth – 21st April 2009

 

Cardiff – 22nd April 2009

 

W. Thurrock / Immingham / Westerleigh & Kingsbury – w/c 27th April 2009

 

Grangemouth – w/c 20th April 2009

 

Hythe – 28/29th April 2009

 

RoSPA Awards

131 drivers won National Safe Driving Awards from RoSPA for 2008.

 

ConocoPhillips contract driver Phil Strachan led the way with 7 consecutive years of accident-free driving without an endorsement on his licence.

Jason Sheeley followed him with 6 years safe driving, and 39 other drivers received awards for 5 consecutive years without an accident or endorsement.

 

1mKm Challenge

The next News Bulletin will announce the launch of the Suckling Transport 1mKm Challenge.

 

Eighteen teams of drivers will compete to achieve one million kilometers of incident-free driving.

 

Personal and team trophies will be awarded to teams reaching the one million kilometer target.  And successful team members will also receive prizes from sponsors, such as DAF, MAN and Michelin.

 

In addition, each team will be able to nominate its own charity to which a donation will be made when 1 million kilometre of incident-free driving is achieved.

 

News Bulletin

The next issue of the bulletin will be in July 2009. 

 

Please let Sue Nicholas have any news items by early June 2009 please.

 

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