News

Dutch transport lawyer Han Vallenduuk has highlighted the vagaries of the European Arrest Warrant (EAW) system in a report on the plight of truck drivers in foreign jails. Vallenduuk, who works closely with Fair Trials Abroad in the UK, says his report, Alone in the World, highlights the impact of the EAW on accused drivers. Under this system truck drivers can be extradited to face legal proceedings in another European country. Vallenduuk cites the case of a Dutch truck driver who was extradited to France under a EAW which, he says, was full of "falsehoods and exaggerations".

Stockton haulage and warehousing firm Stiller Group, formerly known as G Stiller Transport, has boosted its pre-tax profits by 10.5% last year, from £570,000 to £630,000. This is despite a £5m fall in turnover to just over £60m for the financial year ending 31 December 2005. Operating profits rose from £724,000 to £1.14m.

Stan Robinson Group increased its turnover and pre-tax profits last year, and believes 2007 will be better still. Turnover was £15.3m, with a pre-tax profit of £514,000 - a margin of 3.4%. The company has cut overheads by 13% since 2004, including closing its loss-making Ipswich depot 18 months ago. MD Stan Robinson says: "We have achieved a decent result by charging a decent rate and not working for cheap. But we had a disastrous December, January and February last year like everyone else.

Tanker haulier Treasure Transport's balance sheet is looking healthy following its move to a larger base its shareholder funds increased by £135,000 in 2005.Figures for the year to 31 December 2005 show a rise from £1.2m in 2004 following the relocation from Tuxford, Notts, to Grantham, Lincs, in May 2005.Director Peter Greenhalgh says turnover increased during the period by 12% to £3.5m and gross profit went up 13%.

Two directors of a Northern Ireland haulage firm which failed with debts of nearly £400,000 have avoided a court hearing by agreeing to disqualification undertakings. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment accepted a seven-year disqualification undertaking from Charles William Young, of Muckamore, in respect of his conduct while a director of County Antrim-based Bluerock Distribution, which went into liquidation on 30 April 2004.

An operator who has had his licence revoked for five years may still be able to carry on running vehicles in and out of the UK after establishing a second operation in Holland and transferring ownership of some of his trucks to it.

Leicestershire-based transport and warehousing firm Widdowson Group says a new logistics contract shows that its diversification away from pure haulage is working.

The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) has withdrawn its advice on transporting paper amid fears that it could have been causing accidents rather than preventing them. The guidance, known as INDG 396, has been withdrawn "following a number of serious incidents" involving curtainsiders.

Transport Secretary Stephen Ladyman has admitted that VOSA does not have the resources to deal with LGV drivers bringing unroadworthy vehicles into this country and flouting road safety regulations. However, the BBC programme that highlighted the problem of Continental drivers arriving in the UK with sub-standard trucks has been attacked by the Transport General Workers Union for whipping up xenophobia (see panel, right).

Cash-strapped operators should seek funding opportunities for training, according to family firm JW Morrison which has just won an award as Scotland's top training haulage operator. Owner Joe Morrison, who collected the Skills for Logistics-sponsored award, says funding is available for training: "None of us have any money at the moment but there is funding support both for initial training and for upgrading skills.