It’s time for the industry to take control of its own destiny

LET ME START my last Editor’s Comment for 2006 with my customary end-of-the-year accolade to my late Grandmother’s wisdom. When I was a child, she told me: "Patrick my boy. When you’re young, a day seems like a year. As you get older, a year becomes a day". I didn’t have a clue what she was talking about at the time but I do now. It seems like just yesterday that I wrote these same words for my end of 2005 comment. Eeish - time flies nowdays! However, in defence of all us 50-and-above-somethings, the fast passage of time doesn’t automatically link to ‘getting older’. It can also be linked to the fact that we’re all so involved in life itself that one doesn’t notice the days going by. That’s the one I’m settling for, OK?

It’s true though. So much has happened in this industry over the past year. So much activity. So much to tell, so little time and space in which to tell it. I’m sitting here at the end of this year with a number of stories that I have gathered during the course of the year and which are still to appear in print. Take Auto Africa for example. In this edition, deputy editor Paul Collings has taken up the space in giving his observations of the show. Interesting is his observation of how the show demonstrated the very real trend of what is happening in the market in terms of East meeting West. For the first time on a local truck show we saw the significant presence of Chinese sourced products being exhibited alongside the traditional European, American and Japanese sourced products. My observations are going to have to wait for February – which is not really a bad thing. After all, many of the manufacturers and suppliers I spoke to made some pretty ‘hefty’ promises of actions to come. It will be a good thing to start the year off by reminding them of those promises. 

Also having to wait for our February edition is the report on our findings during our second Brake Watch project held last month in Middelburg. First held in November 2005, the project’s value has been enhanced by Bridgestone and Alfa International coming on board to join us and our original partners, Wabco, Acsa-Mag and Arrive Alive to add further value and expertise. Our second Brake and Tyre Watch exercise holds a number of lessons – not only for those operators whose trucks were tested but for all operators out there. It is a story that cannot be told in bits and pieces and it is thus that it too is being held over for February. Again, this is not a bad thing for it will kick off the year with some sharp lessons and reminders that there is a lot to be done to get this industry up to scratch. What we saw at Middelburg was a disgrace and stands as a blot against the ‘good name’ of the trucking industry. Look out for it in our February edition. 

There are many other stories that need to – and will be told. One involves a case where the customer would not listen to his transporter until that transporter's dire warnings of disaster came true. Again, a good one to kick the year off for it may just serve to spur operators into being tougher with ignorant customer and consignors. That needs to be done for there are still far too many transporters who are catering to the idiotic whims of customers to their own detriment. This industry needs to get customers in line with professional thinking around the transport function and next year seems a good time to tackle that. There is another story about how a transport company is spearheading within its ranks an initiative to get a firm grip and control of the extent of the HIV/AIDS crisis. Again, a good one to kick the year off for here too, much more needs to be done to control and contain this disease for it is still running rampant through the transport industry. The story will serve as an example of what can be done and will hopefully inspire others to follow next year. 

If you are reading between the lines, what you will gauge is that our February edition is one that is planned to inspire action as we kick off into 2007. This is a deliberate intent for the time has come for this industry to take control of its own destiny. For too long now – and regular readers will recognise this as my pet hobby-horse – trucking has been taken for granted and has not been afforded the priority attention it justly deserves. As such, it is treated by many with disdain. How much longer are we going to stand for this? How much longer are players in this industry going to be ruled by those who have no consideration or empathy with the lot of the trucker? Take supermarkets as an example. Max Braun in his article on the refrigerated transport sector (see page 28) states that from way back when supermarket or chain stores came into being, there has been dissatisfaction with the delays encountered at the unloading point at these stores – commonly referred to in the trade as the backdoor. He then goes on to state that due to the huge buying power the major supermarket groups wield, there is a reluctance - even fear - to take them to task in a determined bid to resolve the ongoing problems. But here’s the crunch - in Max’s own words: "Having been in and around the business of trucking for the past 50 years, I can say with confidence that the research for this report revealed the most outspoken criticism and condemnation of retail managements’ appalling lack of interest or willingness to address the problems at their respective back doors." When one considers that the companies that responded to Max’s questions own and operate more than 1 000 refrigerated vehicles, it is incomprehensible that they need to still take a back-seat to pompous and arrogant retail managers. Sure the major supermarkets groups have huge buying power but take away those 1 000 trucks and you’ll quickly see that power whittle down to nothing. So why does the industry continue to stand for such nonsense? This is just one example of where the trucking industry needs to flex its muscle next year. There are many other areas and we will be looking at most of them. So let’s now exit 2006 with a determined resolve to come back refreshed and ready to tackle the new year with determination and gusto as an industry which stands tall as a proud corporate citizen of this country. 

To all our advertisers and readers who have been with us during the year, I thank you for being there and I hope we have added value to your past year. From all of us at FleetWatch, may you and your families have a blessed, peaceful and happy festive season and please, please, please, if you’re going away, take full control of your journey from start to finish so that you arrive back home safely. To all FleetWatch staff, thanks for everything guys and dolls. You’re real stars.

Patrick O'Leary
Managing Editor