MANmagazine Truck UK 1/2015

man magazine
1/2015
60 %
of drivers are 45+
As HGV-certified drivers enter retirement
age, there is a massive shortage of
younger freight professionals to replace
them.
MAN commissioned research that
surveyed 1,000 young people aged 16 to
30 looking at career choices at an early
age. Of the 1,000 candidates, only 3.4%
were advised to follow a career in road
transport and logistics, while the majority
were pointed in the direction of careers
in media, retail, and professional
services such as law and accountancy.
In its recent budget, the UK government
vowed to work with freight firms to
find an industry-led solution to the
shortage, including possible funding for
support and training. Elliott acknowledges
that “becoming a HGV 1 driver is not
cheap. It can cost thousands of pounds
which acts as a major barrier to young
people interested in becoming truck
drivers.” When asked if a careers advisor
had ever suggested driving a truck for a
living, 88% replied no, while 25% of those
questioned said they would indeed consider
it as a career option. The truck and
bus manufacturer MAN had commissioned
its study to explore what young
people think about the industry at a time
MAN supports initiatives to strengthen the
appeal of transport and logistics careers.
of rapid expansion due to the explosion
of online shopping. Elliott comments
that “the Freight Transport Association
has predicted a shortfall of 45,000 to
60,000 truck drivers. We wanted to know
why and our findings not only make for
interesting reading but look at the advice
given to young people from an early age.”
The MAN executive adds that the shortage
coincides, of all things, with a time of
rapid freight transport growth. “Our research
showed that 93% of women and
86% of men shop online. This trend is not
going to abate, so how will these items be
delivered in the future? We asked our
panel what their delivery expectations
were for online purchases and 80% said
they expected delivery within 48 hours
of ordering. I think we’ve got some work
ahead of us to meet these expectations in
the future!”
MAN’s research also underlines a
warning issued in 2015 by the All-Party
Parliamentary Group for Integrated
Transport Strategy. The “Barriers to Youth
Employment in the Freight Transport
Sector” report claims there are entrenched
obstacles to attracting people
aged 16 to 24 to the logistics industry. The
report revealed that just 2% of all HGV
drivers are under the age of 25, while 60%
are older than 45.
Off the docks for delivery: MAN vehicles
distribute and transport a wide range of goods.
More MAN power for
transport expert
DJB Haulage experienced a power boost
from its new fleet of MAN TGX 26.480 6x2 tractor
units. A member of the ADMP Group that
includes Willmotts Transport, based in Somerset,
the company chose the increased power of
the TGX 480 backed by an excellent package
through MAN Finance to renew its fleet.
Group Transport Director Andy Tuck explained:
“We have been running some Euro 5
trucks on ’12 plates and as the time for their renewal
came along we chose the TGX models ,
with the last three being Euro 6-compliant.
The drivers are very happy with them – especially
as we have upgraded from the 440-hp to
the 480-hp units, which are pulling heavy
loads. The higher torque gives them lots of
power, whether they are moving 30-tonne containers
in Southampton or china clay or scrap
over here in Somerset.” Tuck also mentions his
company’s long history with MAN, with 18 vehicles
operating in Southampton and 12 tractors
in Somerset. The contracts with MAN
Finance, the repair and maintenance, and the
latest Microlise Trucknology telematics all
made MAN an attractive choice once more.
Roy Osborne, Sales Territory Manager for
MAN, added: “We are glad to have offered
such an attractive deal and to maintain our
long-standing relationship with DJB. It is good
to hear that the drivers are pleased with the
extra torque, and I am sure they will also enjoy
the comfort of their TGX BMS XXL cabs.”
For the DJB haulage provider, MAN Finance
services and telematics certainly add up to an
appealing and competitive MAN solution.
Booming business and
brand loyalty
A civil engineering giant turned to MAN
Truck & Bus UK to satisfy its demand for fleet
expansion. M J Church, a leading civil engineering,
earthworks and waste management
contractor based in Chippenham, took delivery
of six TGS 8x4 rigid tippers and one hook
loader to help meet growing customer orders.
The vehicles were purchased from the MAN
Trucks To Go programme, which cuts lead
times on new trucks.
Director Tom Church explains that “while
we already have a long-standing relationship
with MAN, the availability of these trucks was
a major factor in our ordering. They were in
production and ready to go as soon as we
needed them. That was necessary, since we
didn’t have a long lead time.” Church adds:
“We were looking to replace some units of our
fleet, but this order became an expansion due
to our sheer work volume.” MAN sales executive
Mike Bull says that “M J Church is a real
ambassador for the MAN brand. They are loyal
SRC Aggregates chose MAN vehicles
to expand its mixer fleet in the future.
and repeatedly have purchased our products.”
Tom Church remembers that “our former
transport manager Dave Bell, who sadly
passed away in November 2014, was always
keen on MAN, which is why we know the
brand well. We have tested a range of Euro 6
units – and it had to be MAN once more. Fuel
efficiency and Ad Blue usage are impressive.”
The feedback of drivers also counts: According
to Church, they are all happy with the MAN
vehicles, praising sturdiness and reliability.
“We currently have a number of major civil
engineering projects, including work at RAF
Lyneham and a big contract working on the
M3 motorway, so these vehicles will all be
rolled out and put to immediate use.”
Construction power from MAN
Specialising in the construction of agricultural
reservoirs, a thriving aggregates
firm has invested £260,000 in MAN vehicles
to support its expanding business. Essexbased
SRC Aggregates launched a new readymix
concrete plant in December 2014 and
purchased two new MAN 6x4 mixers and an
MAN TGS 32.360 8x4 mixer chassis fitted with
a Hymix P8000 mixer body for use at the
opening. MAN won the contract due to its efficient
lead times and the relationship the
firm developed with sales manager Mark
Richmond at the Essex-based MAN dealer.
SRC Aggregate’s transport manager, Clint
Layzell, said: “We have recently expanded our
business to include ready-mixed concrete,
“We tested a range
of Euro 6 units –
and it had to be
MAN once more.”
Tom Church, Director M J Church
The civil engineering
company M J Church
purchased MAN units
to meet growing
customer demand.
and MAN was the obvious choice for us as the
lead times on the vehicles we required were
efficient and the terms of service were excellent.”
The first two mixers are fitted with
Utranazz bodies. Layzell added: “In the interest
of speed we have worked with the MAN
dealer in Witham and opted to go with the
Hymix body for the third one. The service we
received was second to none.” SRC Aggregates
already operates a fleet of 41 tippers, trucks
and grabs. According to Lyzell, SRC had been
so impressed with the MAN vehicles so far
that the company decided to use them for its
mixer fleet: “With the successful launch of
our ready-mix concrete, we will definitely expand
our fleet of mixers over the next year.”
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