Thursday, May 12, 2016

Multimodal Sees Freight and Logistics Stakeholders Step Up for Good Causes

Cash Raised Whilst Executives Agree to a Forbidding Challenge
Shipping News Feature
UK – AFRICA – Once more the freight and logistics community showed its appreciation for the good works of international transport development charity Transaid this week, when over £4,000 was raised by way of a table collection, at the FTA Multimodal Awards dinner on 10 May. The Charity also officially launched its new driving challenge, the ‘Training Trucks for Transaid’ initiative, a daring cross-continent challenge to source and drive a bulk liquid tanker and a coach from Europe to Africa and, like lambs to the slaughter, four industry professionals have volunteered to take on the challenge it offers.

The initiative aims to deliver the vehicles to Transaid’s professional driver training programme in Lusaka, Zambia, and is the brainchild of four senior industry professionals, Multimodal’s Director Robert Jervis, Peter Whitehead Managing Director of road transport provider PF Whitehead Logistics, Tony Newton Managing Director of container company Mr Box and David Kremer President of toymaker Rubik’s Brand.

The four-strong executive team, which collectively have precisely zero experience behind the wheel of a commercial vehicle, face what has been termed ‘considerable challenges’ in the year ahead, which many observers will consider an understatement. Firstly, each must work to earn their respective HGV and PCV licences, no easy tasks in themselves, even before they can drive the vehicles through Europe in Spring 2017.

As part of the challenge, the team will also undertake additional courses in first aid, basic diesel engine maintenance and vehicle safety, and will also arrange all the logistics, including obtaining visas and the necessary travel documents for the vehicles. The tanker and coach will then be shipped to the port of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, before the team finally get to drive the vehicles more than 1,200 miles to the Industrial Training Centre (ITC) in Zambia, Transaid’s home base in the country. Gary Forster, Transaid’s Chief Executive, said:

“We’re thrilled that this intrepid team has taken on such a demanding challenge on behalf of Transaid. It demonstrates a considerable commitment, as in addition to sourcing the vehicles, funding the transport and earning their UK licences, they will also have to complete a training course at our centre in Tanzania before driving the trucks into Zambia.

“With these additional vehicles, the ITC will be able to deliver courses to even more students, and bring us closer than ever to our goal of eradicating needless road fatalities. Without the support of the industry we would not be able to reach as many people with our projects, and we call on industry colleagues to get behind the team as they take on this incredible journey.”

The vehicles will be used by the ITC to offer driver trainers in Zambia access to UK-standard formal driving qualifications. Over the previous 12 months, some 25 driver trainers have finished the centre’s course, and in turn have trained almost 7,000 professional drivers, helping to improve road safety standards in Zambia.

The Training Trucks for Transaid team must source the donated vehicles and fund the shipping costs themselves, and therefore are looking for corporate supporters to bolster their own fundraising efforts. Anyone who feels they can help support this most worthwhile of causes can contact any one of the four musketeers themselves or Aggie Krasnolucka-Hickman at Transaid +44 (0)20 7387 8136 or email aggie@transaid.org

Photo: Gary Forster Chief Executive of Transaid revealing details of the four volunteers for this latest African adventure.