My name is Tim Maughan, and I'm Commercial Motor's business editor. My task is to write non-technical features for the magazine, as well as the monthly recruitment section. So I spend a lot of time traversing Britain's roads, seeing operators, police authorities, training providers, government agencies, and so on. I have been with CM since 1998, and I'm always astonished at just how many different things there are to write about in this industry.
Over the years, I have visited operators from Dover to The Scilly Isles, from Peterhead to Anglesey, and just about everywhere in between. In the UK, there are few places I haven't been to with CM. Bicester is such a location, and its unexplored environs fill me with a strange sense of mystique. I have also dropped in to see busy operators in Pennsylvania, Japan, and Holland.
I trained to be a journalist in 1996, and then spent a rather depressing year on an East Sussex newspaper. It was tough work, watching petty criminals in court, and reporting on poorly-attended council meetings late into the night. Worse of all, my "patch" took in Beachy Head, Britain's most notorious suicide spot. Needless to say, I got out of this job when a better opportunity came along. Road transport issues are far better for one's spiritual wellbeing.
I had a "Stand By Me"-style childhood in the leafy glades of North Yorkshire and Durham. But I have lived in various places in Greater London for many years, as well as various spells down on the south coast. So I am comfortable in both the urban and rural worlds - most happy exploring them on my Honda VFR 800.
Comments (2)
Well Tim, you are right about one thing, there is always so much to write home about, but so often it's just a variation on the common theme. That is to say, rampant poverty for those in the lower echelons, because they are used as fodder for those that we are forever having to read about of the higher echelons of the industry! They are so far up there, theyv'e got their head in the clouds, or some other more dark and smelly place.
The common man is sick to death of hearing about how well High and Mighty Logistics is doing, and how Mega Mogul Movers (part of the Massive Group of Compies)has doubled their profits. Don't look down on the poor b******s that are listed in the 'Gone to the wall' chart. A lot of people spent a big part of their lives shovelling s***t to feed the aforementioned rich pigs.
So here's something new for you to write about....How Minnow Man and his wife are struggling to make ends meet while working for the companies that you usually write about. Let's hear it for the small private companies, just for once. Then who knows, you might like to write some more............far more interesting stuff than the usual trumpet blowing.
Best wishes
Michael Kent
Posted by Michael Kent | February 26, 2007 4:50 PM
Posted on February 26, 2007 16:50
Sorry to bother you Tim,
Tried my best on website but drew a blank. I'm a driver, traffic planner, transport manager, and a very hard driven person. Need replies on vacancies if poss.
Best regards Brian
Posted by brian smith | February 27, 2007 1:27 AM
Posted on February 27, 2007 01:27