Chapter 1

Grace Ward had been Transport Manager at Wilkins Distribution for some three months having spent the previous three years with a similar firm as a trainee manager. Under her she had an Assistant Manager Vehicles, Greg Honey, and an Assistant Manager Workshops, Jeff Hardcastle. She reported to the Managing Director, Hugh Walker.

Just before half past eight in early January she arrived at her office and had hardly taken her coat and scarf off when there was a knock at her open door. A worried looking Terry Wilson was standing there.

“Good morning, Terry,” she smiled. “You’re not looking very happy. What’s up?”

“Greg Honey’s wife rung in. He’s got the flu so that’s eight off with it and we’re at least one driver short for all the runs scheduled for today. I can’t see a way round it other than me driving which means that it’ll only be Claire left in the vehicle office to handle emergencies.”

“Oh!” exclaimed Grace. She brought the details board up on her computer and growled at it. “This is too small. Let’s go down and look at the proper one.”

She glanced at Angie her secretary in the outer office who gave her a thumbs up and went out to the vehicle office with Terry. They both gazed at the details board. Terry was right. Every available driver had a full day and all the details were for the large trucks. Grace had a HGV 2 licence and so could not legally drive an articulated lorry.

“I can’t help you out as a driver,” she said to Terry. “I’ve never driven an artic nor am I licensed to. Have you asked Jeff Hardcastle if he’s got a qualified fitter to spare?”

Terry nodded. “He’s short-handed too and has a job list as long as your arm.”

“Damn! Well there’s only one thing for it. I’ll have to sit in with Claire so that you can get away.” She grinned. “If I make a total nonsense I’ll ring you for help but I hope it won’t come to that.”

Terry grinned back. “I’m sure it won’t.”

They both raised crossed fingers and laughed.

“Don’t tempt the devil!” giggled Claire.

“I must pop back to my office, grab some work and brief Angie. Don’t wait for me, Terry.”

“Thanks. Good luck!”

She was back ten minutes later with a bundle of paperwork which she put down on Greg’s desk.

“Coffee?” asked Claire.

“Yes, please. I haven’t had one since breakfast this morning and that seems like ages ago. Now, going back to my initial walk round, there’s the details board which you keep up.”

“Yes!”

“There’s a map marked with recovery services and places for overnight stops.”

“Yes! There’s also a telephone directory for them and for the local police.”

“OK. What about ambulances?”

“We leave them up to the police when the driver calls them.”

“OK. Anything else?”

“Yes. I’ve also put together a directory for the customers and the delivery points for today.”

“Good thinking. Now, presumably you’re happy to deal with routine calls.”

“Sure. I’ll soon let you know if I can’t.”

Grace smiled and held up crossed fingers. Claire smiled back.

The morning was silent other than Terry ringing in at eleven to ask whether all was well. Claire assured him it was. At half past twelve the first call came in reporting delivery on time. More followed. At one a driver reported a major hold-up on the M5. Claire noted it and warned off the goods recipient who was grateful for the call. The same driver considerably later on reported that he had arrived but the recipients were not prepared to complete the unloading that night. Grace took that one over and spoke to the firm’s contact warning him that they would be responsible for the driver’s evening meal, bed and breakfast.

“Don’t worry,” was the reply. “I’ve warned my wife off. He’ll be staying the night with us.”

Grace thanked him but then looked ruefully at Claire. “We’ll still be short of a driver tomorrow morning.”

“Actually we’ve still got two spare and it’s not often there’s a panic request.”

“Fingers crossed.”

Terry was back shortly after five o’clock and offered to take over seeing the other returnees safely in. Grace turned him down.

“Thanks, Terry, but you’ve been on the road apart from unloading for eight or so hours. Go and get your head down.”

Chapter 2 »