Top 20 Power Players 2009

Welcome to Commercial Motor's Power Players 2009 - the list of 20 people and organisations that we believe have the most influence on and exert the most control over the road transport industry.

This list is by no means objective, but we've debated long and hard the merits of those on it, and where they should appear.

On our Power Players list, you will find operators, clients, industry stakeholders and a few off-the-wall choices - some you may know, some you may not. Some make the list because they personally have power, while others do so because the organisations they lead have power.

Drivers can save you money through reduced fuel consumption and act as great ambassadors for your business

1. Your drivers

Drivers are generally the second-highest operational cost for a transport business after fuel – and how they drive helps determine how quickly that business’s single biggest cost (fuel) mounts up.

Well trained and, dare we say it, incentivised drivers have immense power for good: they can save you money through reduced consumption of that oh-so-costly diesel, cut back on vehicle wear-and-tear, and improve safety records.

If they’re committed to proper daily walk-round checks, they’re helping you maintain your compliance record. Not only that, but they can act as great ambassadors for your business: they probably have more direct contact with customers or your customers’ end-users than you do, and if they convey the right impression, your relationship with your customer is strengthened. Also, drivers can have influence when they’re out on the road: how carefully they drive, how well they behave, reflects well on the entire industry.

But of course, poorly trained, poorly managed drivers can cost you money through heavy right feet generating higher fuel costs and careless manoeuvring leading to damage to vehicles, and can sour your relationship with customers and Joe Public alike.

Drivers exert great influence over all transport operations in many ways, and thus we feel justified in naming them No.1 Power Player for 2009.

Tesco has pushed forward in all areas of its transport operation in the past three years

2. David Potts

Title: Retail and Logistics Director
Organisation: Tesco

David Potts has been retail and logistics director at Tesco since 2004. We’re listing him not only because of Tesco’s buying power and sophisticated logistics, but also because he and his employer are representative of all major clients, especially major retailers.

The likes of Potts and Tesco’s transport director Alex Laffey must solve the logistics puzzle they are handed as efficiently as possible, juggling quality of service delivery with cost and environmental impact.

Tesco has pushed forward in all areas of its transport operation in the past three years. For example, it recently started the roll-out of Mercedes-Benz’s Fleetboard telematics system across the entire 1,800-strong fleet; once fitted in every vehicle, Tesco estimates a saving of £5m a year in fuel costs and a reduction of its annual CO2 output by 10,000 tonnes.

It has expanded its front-haul initiative – where transport operators that have dropped off goods at its RDCs then make deliveries to stores – and is helping its suppliers to collaborate on deliveries (the most recent example being arch rivals Mars and Nestlé).

These are the great strides the biggest retail clients (remember, as well as running its own fleet, Tesco engages about 100 third-party contractors) can make and can share with wider industry. But the biggest clients clearly also have the power to damage the industry by: engaging disreputable operators; setting terribly low rates; and, frankly, by being pretty hopeless at logistics in a handful of cases.

But, for the moment, the likes of Tesco are a shining beacon of achievement – so let’s cling to that positive.

3. Alastair Peoples

Title: Chief Executive
Organisation: VOSA

Alastair Peoples has spent practically his entire career in enforcement of road vehicles and drivers. He joined VOSA in 2004 as operations director after 26 years at the Driver & Vehicle Testing Agency in Northern Ireland. He moved on to become strategy and performance director and deputy chief executive in April 2008.

In January 2009, he was named acting chief executive following Stephen Tetlow’s departure. He was then confirmed as chief executive six months later.

And what a time to take charge of VOSA! Being criticised by the Traffic Commissioners, operators and industry stakeholders (especially over Authorised Testing Facilities), and its own staff, VOSA is under attack on all sides, while struggling/failing (delete as applicable) to operate within its means.

We need VOSA; we need it do its job well; and we need it to have the funding to do that job. Quite how Peoples can ensure these targets are achieved while firefighting on so many fronts remains to be seen.

4. Andrew Tinkler

Title: Chief Executive
Organisation: Stobart Group

If there were a housewives’ favourite haulier, Eddie Stobart would be it. We know that Stobart Group is much more than simply those iconic trucks, but to Joe Public there is Eddie Stobart and then a load of ‘no names’.

Stobart is not that big, but it impressively punches above its weight, both in terms of its operational sophistication (helping to attract some blue-chip clients) and its ability to gain audience with the powers that be (for instance, a face-to-face meeting with Department for Transport officials to discuss longer trailers).

In a recent interview (Commercial Motor, 26 November), chief executive Andrew Tinkler dismissed this latter assertion: “I don’t think we have more influence than anyone else. But I’m willing to give an opinion if [the government] listens to it.”

However, ask the industry’s associations whether they want Stobart to be ‘on message’ or ‘off message’ and you’ll get a reply of the former. That’s power.

Beverley Bell, North-Western Traffic Commissioner

5. Beverley Bell

Title: North-Western Traffic Commissioner
Organisation: Department for Transport

OK, this is a little cheeky: Beverley Bell ahead of Philip Brown? It’s not meant as a slight to the Senior TC; it is simply a reflection of the fact that Brown’s role can limit what he can say, while Bell is outspoken.

North-Western TC for nine years, Bell has generated more headlines in CM in the last decade than any other TC.

In her annual report, she took VOSA to task, noting that while enforcement in her region was more than satisfactory, her fellow TCs in the rest of the country could not say the same. Then in September 2009, she threatened to stop hearing public inquiries after an email sent to her by a member of the public, which expressed concerns about an operator, was released to that operator following a Freedom of Information request. The matter was subsequently sorted and she withdrew her threat.

Bell comes across as a crusader – so never cross her.

Philip Brown, Senior Traffic Commissioner

6. Philip Brown

Title: Senior Traffic Commissioner
Organisation: Department for Transport

Philip Brown was appointed Eastern Deputy Traffic Commissioner in August 1990, a role he continued for almost 10 years until he was appointed full-time Western TC in May 2000. He took up his additional appointment of Senior TC for Great Britain in March 2003 before moving in May 2007 to the South-Eastern and Metropolitan Traffic Area.

And then in March 2009, Brown’s role as Senior TC was expanded - he became the first statutory senior TC, with powers to issue directions and guidance to the other TCs. That sounds powerful but even he remains unclear on exactly how the government envisions the role will function.

He is keen to modernise the TC’s role and allow TCs to specialise in certain areas. He wants a more efficient O-licensing system and administrative functions to be constant across the regions. CM says ‘amen’ to all of those.

Have we placed Brown too low? We think not: if you’re a professional operator, you have no need to fear the TC…

7. Cowboys

Whether of domestic or foreign origin, poorly maintained, poorly driven vehicles are the bane of this industry. Quite clearly, they exert a negative influence on Joe Public’s view of road transport.

Running overloaded and driven by exhausted drivers blindly following sat-navs into narrow lanes, trucks operated by rogue or cowboy operators tarnish the entire industry’s reputation.

VOSA has got some belated investment from government to tackle the cowboys, and there are signs that graduated fixed penalties are having some impact. But there must be safeguards in place to ensure that penalties and misdemeanours recorded by a foreign operator in another member state are notified to the appropriate authorities in the operator’s country of origin – and appropriate action taken.

We hope that, in future, cowboy operators and drivers will have less and less impact on the industry.

8. José Manuel Barroso

Title: President
Organisation: European Commission

Strong beer, the winning combination of chips and mayonnaise, and cycling legend Eddy Merckx are just some of the great things that have come out of Brussels.

Also issuing forth from Brussels is the legislation/red tape (delete as appropriate) that governs much of the way the UK road transport industry operates. Whether it’s working time rules, the employment of agency labour or exhaust emission levels, your processes and choices are set by the European Parliament.

Often directives originate with the best intentions but then become mired in endless debates and torn apart by consensus politics.

And thus we have Euro-6: a ‘cleaner’ engine standard that could lead to greater CO2 emissions… and it’s going to be introduced nine months early on 1 January 2013. Well done, Brussels: another winner!

We’re pointing the finger at José Manuel Barroso, EC president, now in his second term.

9. Perry Watts

Title: Chief Executive Officer, UK & Ireland
Organisation: DHL Supply Chain

What pie hasn’t DHL got its fingers in? Whether it's parcels with Express, drinks with Tradeteam, containers with, er, Containers, and just about everything else with Supply Chain, DHL is a key market player – and Perry Watts is the top man at the last of these.

Given its breadth, DHL has generated as many bad news headlines as good news headlines in the past year: for every contract win, there’s been a client downsizing or warehouse closing.

But DHL does go on winning major contracts, its most recent scalp being the News International deal, which meant defeating long-term incumbent Ceva (formerly TNT, holder of the contract since its inception in 1986).

London’s nine-year, £15.9bn Crossrail project? Logistics planning by DHL! London Olympics? Construction logistics centres run by DHL!

Like Wincanton, when Joe Consumer is confident enough to start spending freely again, DHL’s exposure to the retail market will pay dividends.

10. Graeme McFaull

Title: Chief Executive
Organisation: Wincanton

Having joined Wincanton in 1994, Graeme McFaull (current president of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport) took nine years to get to the top. Since he was appointed chief executive in October 2005, Wincanton has made eight acquisitions totalling £120m, starting with the purchase of the Lane Group for £2m in October 2006.

Wincanton is involved in just about every sector you can think of. Turnover grew 9% in the year to March 2009, hitting nearly £2.4bn, while underlying operating profit jumped 13.5% to £59.5m.

But size and scope isn’t everything: a year ago it exited the chilled sector, transferring its business to Culina, and more recently mainland Europe has been tricky as volume declines in Germany have hit hard. Wincanton was also caught out by the collapse of Woolworths – to the tune of £2.1m in unrecoverable loss.

Nevertheless, any improvement in the economy will be reflected in Wincanton’s figures.

11. Lord Adonis

Title: Transport Secretary
Organisation: Department for Transport

What’s more surprising: that the latest transport secretary is so high on this chart – or so low? As head of the Department for Transport, the transport secretary governs key executive agencies including VOSA and the Highways Agency, but to what ends? How much power does the transport secretary really have when the Exchequer rules the roost?

Lord Adonis is the latest in a long line of short-term appointments to the post. Every time a new transport secretary is appointed, the industry has to start from scratch, attempting to educate them in the nuances of road transport.

A few years ago shadow transport minister Theresa Villiers indicated she would be happy to be transport secretary for some time if the Tories win the next election. That being the case, will she wield power more effectively than Lord Adonis and his many predecessors?

12. Mike Branigan

Title: Chief Executive
Organisation: TDG

Mike Branigan has quickly made his way up the ladder at TDG, having started in 2001. He’s been IT director, he’s led contract logistics in the Netherlands, Ireland, and the UK. In March, he was promoted to the top job following David Garman’s departure after the Laxey Partners buyout.

Branigan has integrated the contract logistics and chemicals divisions into one business, and reorganised the group by product: end-to-end supply chain management; freight forwarding; and fourth- and third-party logistics.

It’s for TDG’s 4PL and 3PL contracts that we’ve listed him. Those agreements have angered many operators that previously worked for those clients because they now work directly for TDG as subcontractors – or not at all if they won’t take the reduced rates.

In TDG’s defence, we don’t hear the clients complaining, so watch out for more outsourcing deals going TDG’s way.

13. Theo de Pencier

Title: Chief Executive
Organisation: Freight Transport Association

As head of the association that represents the largest fleets, both third party and own-account, and the major transport clients, Theo de Pencier should not be underestimated. Strong on quiet diplomacy, you’re more likely to see one of his team making the headlines.

The FTA is fighting a number of battles at the moment: climate change taxation, PCNs, bridge tolls, O-licensing (whether in Northern Ireland or dealing with the threat of van regulation from Brussels), and truck crime to name a few. Fortunately, it has the resources to wage war on so many fronts.

However, there’s an election coming soon, and it will be interesting to see how much influence the FTA can exert over those who would be king – and given the multi-modal community the FTA represents, which section(s) of that community benefit the most.

14. Geoff Dunning

Title: Chief Executive
Organisation: Road Haulage Association

Perhaps unfairly seen as a surprise replacement for Roger King, Geoff Dunning has made no splashes since taking the helm of the RHA this summer. And that’s just how it should be.

Faced with challenges internally and externally, Dunning has quietly got on with addressing both. Having headed the RHA’s northern region for 15 years, he has a strong grasp of the reality of running a haulage operation and understands his members’ worries.

In September, he launched the RHA’s wide-ranging ‘Deliver UK’ manifesto. The highlight of this was his statement: “We’ll identify a list of MPs, Parliamentary secretaries, whips and the like, identify their constituencies, identify our members in the areas and do a proper lobbying job.”

How Dunning leads the RHA through the next election and charts its members through the choppy economic waters will be crucial.

15. Tony Berkeley

Title: Chairman
Organisation: Rail Freight Group

We don’t expect the government to love trucks, but we do expect ministers and civil servants to respect the essential role they perform.

We do expect balanced debate about modal switch, and we do expect road transport to get the investment it needs to continue to perform the task UK plc asks of it. And those expectations are unlikely to be met as long as there’s a Rail Freight Group (RFG) and Tony Berkeley leading it.

Together they punch above their weight, ready to whisper sweet nothings in the ear of ministers whenever freight is debated, ensuring those wonderful green trains that don’t get in the way of Joe Public’s cars win the day over trucks.

We know the RFG acknowledges the value of road transport – but we’re not sure the government realises it. Perhaps the FTA or the RHA should recruit Berkeley?

16. Mike Bracey

Title: Chairman
Organisation: Brewery Logistics Group

Penalty charge notices (PCNs) – or parking fines – are the bane of all operators making city and town centre deliveries, especially in London.

The fight against PCNs has been fought by a number of people, notably Gordon Telling and Natalie Chapman at the Freight Transport Association, and Graham Rennie and Joanna Pegg at 3663, but the most vocal, passionate (bloody-minded, some might say) and longest-serving is Mike Bracey at the Brewery Logistics Group (BLG), which represents the interests of the major brewers and their delivery contractors.

In partnership with Westminster City Council, the BLG part-funded the employment of Hayley Regan as an account manager tasked with bridging the gap between the council and the needs of those making deliveries.

The result? An unexpected success as PCN volumes dropped by nearly 80% for BLG members.

17. Ron Webb

Title: National Secretary for Transport
Organisation: Unite

The past 18 months have been tough for Unite, the biggest union in the road transport industry. It’s been many years since its staff have had to work so hard to represent their members.

With collapses, closures, consolidations and TUPE transfers affecting so many of its members, Unite and its well-known head Ron Webb have had to concentrate on the here and now, reacting to each piece of bad news as it hit the headlines.

Webb comes across as an unapologetic, unreconstructed unionist, but he’s an experienced operator. Run-ins with major fleet operators have been few and far between recently. However, if we really do see the start of the recovery in Q3 next year, we can expect Webb and Unite to engage in some robust negotiations for 2011 pay deals.

18. Dick Denby

Title: Director
Organisation: Denby Transport

Still going strong after all these years, Denby made the list at the last moment courtesy of his brave/mad (delete as applicable) decision to run one of Denby Transport's Eco-Link longer, heavier vehicles (LHVs) on UK roads without a permit.

Following the Department for Transport's mishandling of the research into the validity of LHVs last year, Denby has decided enough is enough. A long-time campaigner for LHVs, he's just got on and done it - hopefully forcing the issue into public (and transparent) debate once again. Unfortunately, Denby was prevented from testing his LHV on the UK highways by officials from VOSA.

Others have been promoting the LHV debate of late - notably Iveco and trailer-maker Kögel, and Irish haulier Reynolds Logistics with its 'more efficient vehicle' - but Denby gets the nod here because of his cojones.

19. Sally Traffic

Title: Radio Traffic Reporter
Organisation: Radio 2

Sally Boazman - or 'Sally Traffic' as all Radio 2 listeners know her - is the calm voice of reason behind a driver's day as it goes to hell in a handcart, having got caught up in an unexpected snarl-up on the M6.

As Radio 2's dedicated traffic reporter since 1999, she's been dispatching routing information to drivers long before sat-nav became the norm.

In fact, this year, she beat all the sat-nav systems on the market to win the Truck & Driver/Iveco Stralis Driver Choice Award for Best Traffic Information. She then bragged about the victory on air that afternoon during the Chris Evans Drivetime show.

Sally Traffic: a driver's best friend.

20. Phil Murphy

Title: Network Operations Director
Organisation: Royal Mail

Murphy's presence here has nothing to do with the strikes that boosted Q4 volumes for parcel operators. He's here because of Royal Mail's Safety Concept Vehicle.

Impressive as the DAF/Cartwright combination is, with 55 safety elements (of which just 11 are legal requirements, please note), more important is the message it sends to all road transport operators.

When the vehicle was launched in May, Murphy dared to question the industry's approach to safety: "If the industry's safety report was a school record, it would say: 'Could do more. Not concentrating'."

Murphy also said: "Our safety issues are industry-wide issues." In addressing those issues, Murphy and Royal Mail are leading the industry - and challenging it to follow.