THE ,m.,,,ne YOUNGER G=\ERATIO
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needs for moving blacktop. Sites worked by Cannon vehicles include the Farringdon and Cambridge by-passes and the new British Leyland proving ground at Gaydon in Warwickshire.
Three vehicles returned from the Shetland Isles just before Christmas, from a four-month project laying runways at Lerwick Airport. Drivers and fitters were also supplied for the job.
Seventy per cent of all Cannon's business is under subcontract from ARC. "One section of ARC's business alone brings in £35,000 a month,said John Cannon.
The Central Electricity Generating Board is John Cannon's other big customer. It opened a central store at Didcot 10 years ago and the firm is on 24-hour call for delivery of stores to power stations nationwide. The CEGB pays on a mileage basis as the load can be anything from a parcel to a massive piece of plant equipment. Keeping a power station in operation is considered a matter of national necessity.
John Cannon was quick to realise the potential for new business when the CEGB stores moved to the area. He now operates tippers out of Dicicot power station although council opposition threatened the scheme at first.
Through his carefully developed relationship with the Board, he has arranged to buy powdered ash which he draws from the power station. This he bags using special equipment bought from Hackney power station. A 20-ton Crane Freuhauf tanker fitted with blower is used for carrying the ash in bulk for discharge into a silo at the bagging plant.
The ash is saleable for mixing with cement to a level of 25 per cent and is much cheaper. The CEGB's marketing department finds buyers for the ash on Cannon's behalf.
An inquiry through the CEGB from a Danish firm may lead Cannon into exporting. Its interest in AFFA has enabled it to quote CIF and FOB prices for supplying the ash, keeping the whole selling, shipping and forwarding operation within the group,
Last April, ARC also began continued overleaf
buying the ash.
A local Home Office surplus depot for municipals and prison stores provides general haulage business. Regular trips from the depot supplying the prison ser vice earn £195 a load. John Cannon back-loads to Peckham, where he picks up fertiliser for
storing. -I always maintain I can go anywhere in this area and get business,'" he said, commenting on back loads.
The Home Office also gives Cannon maintenance work that it cannot do itself at the depot.
The firm employs a mechanic to prepare all its own vehicles for MoT testing and holds stocks of general spares. Alf Cannon, John Cannon's uncle, manages the workshops. The Cannon fleet comprises mainly Leyland Marathon tractive units.
Three Cannon lorries are permanently based at Cannons of Milton, a storage and distribu tion firm within the group. One of them leaves the warehouse daily to pick up spare parts from British Leyland for delivery. Oil and lubricants are distributed from the store to dealers and garages within a 50-mile radius. Cannon has its own basic store for bagged products where it keeps Argentinian groundcoal for a local Esso research centre.
The scale and diversity of Cannon's operations contrasts with W. H. Geer Ltd in Poole. This is a small firm where, until recently, the whole family was on the road.
Some years ago founder, Bill Geer, had a contract using 14 lorries which he lost through being undercut. He sold all his vehicles except for two which his sons continued to drive. The firm gradually recovered, allowing Bill Geer to retire and make way for his eldest son John. Its fleet now numbers five—three Foden and one Seddon Atkinson 32-tonners and one 24-ton Foden rigid.
Unlike John Cannon, 42year-old John Geer has only
controlled the firm for the last two years, though along with his father and brothers, he has been involved for all his working like He has developed some pithy views of the industry during his years at the ''sharp endof the business. -Haulage is not a job,
it's a disease," he said. The financial benefits do not justify the expense •— it's one of the most highly capital-intensive industries."
In spite of his unclouded idea of road haulage, John Geer intends to push his firm towards greater success. He is willing to undertake any type of general haulage work, accepting subcontracts and sub-contracting to other firms when the occasion demands "I wouldn't say we went out and sold ourselves much though,he said.
In the last 18 months John Geer has opted for more local contracts, although he stressed his willingness to go anywhere if the price is right. One regular contract is for British Road Services carrying imported steel coil discharged at Poole Harbour.
The firm operates from a yard behind John Geer•s house, but last year it bought a one-acre garage site a mile away for maintenance and repairs. "When anyone starts in haulage he buys a lorry,said John Geer, "but today you need premises with facilities if you want to be sure your licence will be renewed-.
Ron Geer is the family mechanic, having successfully completed the Vehicle Roadworthy Inspectors' course. John Geer wants to ensure that the firm can carry out all its own maintenance, "an outside garage may check your brakes but if they fail it's you who are responsible,he said.
Once the garage is fully operational, the firm will pay particular attention to its vehicles' appearance. Over the last two years, according to John Geer, they have become shabbier than ever' before and he does not intend to let this trend continue while he is in charge.
It is likely that the garage will provide extra business by doing maintenance for outsiders. John Geer hinted that at least one national firm had shown an interest in his new venture, although he was unwilling to make any boasts until it has proved itself.
John Geer takes his new responsibilities seriously. He has passed the CPC examinations although he already had grandfather rights as an operator.
In January Geer received a new 32-ton Foden to replace a six-year-old Seddon Atkinson. The other vehicles in the fleet are between three and six years old. John Greer would like to replace his vehicles every two years -before they start costing money." but until now he has allocated any spare cash to the garage site.
John Geer keeps a sharp eye on the way the industry is developing. He believes that vehicles will continue to become more specialised and demonstrated
his attitude to change by saying: -Any haulier would adapt his
fleet if a big enough customer came along," He referred to steel coil which he carries on
flats as an example of a product that requires a specialised lorry "there should be a law passed tomorrow,he said.
John Geer realises that a small firm relies on every mem ber's involvement, especially as he wants to continue growing. That is why he is delighted that Jackie, wife to his second brother, Gordon, holds a class 1 hgv licence. Although she does not usually drive for Geer, she provides an invaluable stand-in and a useful shunter for vehicles in the yard.
Although Cannon differs greatly in size from Geer, it is also a truly family firm. Phillip Cannon, brother to John, is traffic manager, and Anne Cannon, John's wife, is also his secretary.
The Cannon family has many long-serving employees as well, at least two drivers have served the company for 35 years, beginning as apprentices.
Training continues today, John Cannon is a director of his local training group, where drivers taken on by Cannon with hgv 3 are trained up to hgv 1 and 2.