Love a lorry? Shine a light

Road haulage boss Dave Alsop is asking people to show their love for lorries.

 

Mr Alsop from Seil who employs a staff of 18 and has a fleet of 10 lorries is backing a call from The Road Haulage Association encouraging people to take to their doorsteps tonight (Thursday November 19) at 8pm and shine a light for all the truck drivers, warehouse staff, managers, technicians, mechanics, fitters and others in the logistics industry who have kept the country moving during Covid.

 

"attachment_397042" "" "300"] Lorry drivers John Morgan and Stuart McLachlan have more than 70 years trucking experience between them, supplying shops and warehouses with goods.

 

'This is the sixth annual Love A Lorry Week, which is probably more poignant than ever this year as it is the lorries which have been keeping the nation running throughout Covid-19, with drivers who have had to venture into areas where the infection is rife and very often not even being allowed to use basic toilet and food facilities because others have deemed them to be a contamination risk,' said Mr Alsop who started up his road haulage business in 1989.

 

During Covid, Mr Alsop's drivers have been trucking up the road miles delivering to supermarkets, a big DIY chain's distribution centre and bringing up NHS medical supplies from the South.

 

Drivers have often been on the road for a maximum of nine hours a day behind the wheel, often a total a 15-hour working day if loading and unloading times are included.

 

'It's a vital and demanding job all lorry drivers do, as well as the staff back at the offices. Often drivers have to stay away from home in their cabs, luckily nowadays they are rather cosy and can be self-sufficient but they can still get a rough deal from other road-users who get 'stuck' behind them.

 

'Not many people know that HGVs here have a legal speed limit of 40 mph. When frustration sets in people don't tend to remember that the lorry in front might be carrying their week's shopping to the supermarket shelves.

 

'It would also be helpful if car drivers pulling in at lay-bys, didn't hog the middle, so lorries can pull over if they need a break or to let other road users get by,' said Mr Alsop.

 

'They are the ones that keep this great industry on the road. It would mean a lot if people would stand on their doorstep tonight and shine a light to say thank you,' he added.