I chaired Don-Bur's lifting deck forum last week at the Brittania Stadium, Stoke-on-Trent and a couple of presentations - from the fleet engineer's at John Lewis and Argos - captured the spirit of the day indicating that, if the business requirements are right, then lifting deck trailers can represent some massive efficiency gains.

But as the guy from John Lewis, Ray Collington, explained if the operational requirements of the business change then investment in some fairly expensive and niche kit, can leave the operation a bit exposed. John Lewis trucks are now being expected to backload for sister company Waitrose, which requires a different type of trailer to the high-tech lifting deck variety the firm has bought from Don-Bur in the past.

This conflict between making efficiency savings in a very specific operation through the detailed specification of product, versus retaining a more standard build which can be run across all parts of the business is an issue which has taxed fleet engineers for years and seems to swing with the fashion of the day and debates are likely to rage for a good few year's yet.