Payment system delays
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• A month-long trial of new operating and payment systems at Hanson Aggregates' Stanwick depot (CM 21-27 June) has been suspended halfway through because of computer problems.
The trial, involving 15 owner-drivers, was launched on 19 June. It addresses concerns that the new nationwide payment system, which is based on daily and actual mileage allowances rather than radial miles, could slash owner-drivers' incomes.
One owner-driver involved in the trial says that even before the suspension occurred, it was ''obvious" that the payment
system and the re-organisation of vehicle schedules using software and text messaging was not working.
"We were doing fewer loads per day, running empty more often. I calculated that I would lose up to £70 a day under this system," he claims.
Another operator in the trial says there are a "lot of unhappy drivers". He hopes the software problem is "a gigantic problem... something irretrievable so that the management will send the idea to the wall."
A spokesman for Hanson says the company has identified the software problems and Is dealing with them.
"We have told the drivers we aim to restart the trial on 16 July or when we are convinced the system Is working 100%," he adds. "The whole point of running a trial is to find out whether there are any glitches or not."
The spokesman adds that he has only heard "positive feedback" from the trial, stressing that Hanson is "still happy with the principle of the new systems."