Haulage firms in the Midlands say a chronic shortage of qualified lorry drivers is costing them millions in lost trade. Operators say they urgently need to attract ‘young blood’ as the majority of HGV drivers are approaching retirement. But one Staffordshire firm, TLP Group, is trying to buck the trend.
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Two sisters have become the third generation of their family to qualify as lorry drivers.
Holly and Kate Bowers have followed dad Martyn and 
grandad William in becoming HGV drivers for family firm TLP Group.
And 20-year-old Holly is believed to be one of the youngest women to ever obtain a class one licence, allowing her to drive the heaviest goods vehicles.
Holly, from Talke, had previously worked as a racehorse trainer, but when she was thrown from a horse and shattered her ankle last July she was told she was never be able to ride again.
She then decided to follow her older sister Kate into the family business, initially obtaining her forklift and scissor lift licences, and now becoming an HGV driver.
Holly said: “I was so chuffed and surprised to pass my class one. It was difficult.
“I wanted to work with racehorses but after the bad accident, I couldn’t ride again.
“So my dad offered me this job, and I passed my class one last month.”
Kate, aged 22, from Smallthorne, obtained her class one licence last July.
She said: “I was surprised to get my class one licence as I found it difficult to get my class two, but I feel very happy about it.
“I started at TLP when I was in college, washing the trucks. Then I became full-time.
“I think it’s good because it’s a small family business.”
Grandad William, who founded Newcastle-based distribution company TLP 27 years ago, says Holly is a ‘natural’ lorry driver.
The 72-year-old, from Newcastle, said: “One of the things that excites me is that Holly did not join us until July. She loved her job training racehorses.
“But she has passed her licences in a very short space of time – she’s a natural.”
William’s son Martyn has been a lorry driver for 25 years, and is now a director of TLP Group.
The 46-year-old, from Hartshill, said: “Dad needed some help with the business so the family became involved, and in the last five years my daughters have become involved as well.
“Few HGV drivers are young people, and there is a demand for people with the licence.
“We didn’t think they would pass because the test is so intense, with 40 hours training for class two, and an additional 20 hours for class one.”
Read more at http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sisters-become-family-s-third-generation-of-lorry-drivers/story-30085927-detail/story.html#comments#23GfmLxCFs1kPvMq.99
MORE than 600 cyclists have signed up to take part in a bike ride for one of Stoke-on-Trent’s best-loved charities.
They will set off 
from Michelin Athletic Club in Stoke before pedalling 10km, 55km or 150km to raise money for the Douglas Macmillan Hospice.
And among those taking part in the event this month will be Jodie Goodwin.
The 32-year-old was inspired to sign up after her step-grandmother, Barbara Bradley, from Longton, used the Hospice at Home care before losing her fight against cancer 10 years ago.
Warehouse manager Jodie, from Newcastle, said: “It’s something they do every year and they encouraged me to get involved.
“I thought it would be nice to do it in memory of my step-grandmother, as it is 10 years since she died this year.
“The care that she received was amazing. They made her comfortable and the nurses were brilliant.
“She wanted to die at home, it was her wish to be close to her husband.
“It’s a great charity to be raising money for and I thought it would be nice to do it in her memory.”
As the rest of her work team have been doing the bike ride for last few years, Jodie has been trying to get in shape for the ride.
She added: “I’m not the fittest of people, and I have only ridden the bike to work and back once.
“That did take it out of me, I was knackered and it was only three miles.
“I have been going to the gym and swimming to get my fitness up
“It’s not a race at the end of the day and I can go at my own pace.”
Jodie’s step-daughter Megan Goodwin is also taking part in the 10km bike ride on May 15.
The 17-year-old said: “I’m doing it in memory of my two great nanas, Nana Nancy and Little Nana.
“We have talked about doing the longer one next year, when we have more time to prepare.
“We are both egging each other on, it’s for a great cause too.
“I know that my family have always donated to the Dougie Mac so its good to carry that on.”
Hospice spokesman Paul Downey said: “We are hoping to get at least 1,000 people involved in the race this year. There are 650 so far.
We have people who come from all over just to participate which is fantastic. We’re hoping that it continues to grow and grow.”
Read more at http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/600-cyclists-sign-dougie-mac-bike-ride/story-29242700-detail/story.html#PiMrfwtt6T4CopEd.99
Pallet transportation group Total Logistics Products (TLP) has celebrated 25 years in business by joining one of the UK’s leading networks, Pallet-Track.
Having previously been part of the TPN network for over ten years the Newcastle-based organisation joins others across the country to offer full-service pallet deliveries under the Pallet-Track umbrella.
Martyn Bowers, operations director at TLP, said: “Our highest priorities are customer retention and value for money for our current customers. Pallet-Track is a market leader in terms of customer service and we’re looking forward to experiencing the team’s no nonsense approach to business.
“As well as having a fantastic list of members with excellent reputations, Pallet-Track is content with concentrating on service rather than volume, unlike other networks which look to flood their hubs with undesirable freight.”
TLP will serve the ST postcode and is the eighth member to join the network in as many months, following a successful period of growth for the organisation, which also opened its Scottish and Southern hubs last year.
Nigel Parkes, managing director at Pallet-Track, said: “We’re thrilled to have TLP on board as a member of our team. They have a very loyal client base which we will continue to provide with the consistently high levels of customer service that they have come to expect.”