COMPANY PORTRAIT bought MCO-73-04V ( V ) semi-trailers with a double extendible load floor that carry 28m long railway carriages at 900mm from the ground . Since then we have bought around twenty-five Nooteboom semi-trailers , mainly low-loaders . Three of them have been sold by now ; all the other ones are still in use . After ten years of intensive service the semi-trailers are refurbished and then they are good to be used for another ten years . In these twenty years the Nooteboom semi-trailers have been developed further . For instance , the steering technology has progressed significantly . And so has the conservation . The semi-trailers used to have some susceptibility to corrosion , this problem has now been solved completely and the semi-trailers are fully protected against corrosion by being hot-zinc sprayed . Recently we have taken delivery of our two latest Nooteboom semi-trailers , a 1 + 4 and a 2 + 4 low-loader . Fortunately we hardly ever need it , but in case of emergency Nooteboom has a network of more than 20 service centres in France . We have an excellent relationship with the Nooteboom service branch , Garage Martel in Grigny ( 69 ) and Garage Déchet ( 03 ) in Auvergne . They give us support and respond quickly to our needs .”
CONFIDENCE IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS ? “ At the moment there is not enough investment in the infrastructure in France . We are hoping that in 2018 , after the elections , new projects will be tendered . In addition we increasingly have to deal with the competition of companies from Eastern Europe . As long as those companies pay their drivers the same wages , comply with the driving time rules and safely secure their load there is no problem . But often this is not the case and then we are dealing with unfair competition .”
EXEMPTION FOR ABNORMAL TRANSPORT “ Indivisible loads can be driven in France up to 48 tonnes in weight and 3 metres wide with a Category 1 exemption . From 48 up to 72 tonnes it
is a Category 2 transport for which one single escort vehicle is required . We have five escort vehicles of our own that we also use to give the drivers that are in training experience in abnormal transport operations . In France the height is not restricted . If we have to pass under a low bridge we tend to go very slowly . At that moment the driver of the escort vehicle is responsible for the safety . Our transports hardly ever take the motorway . The driver of the escort vehicle also steers the rear of the semi-trailer with the manual steering when negotiating the many roundabouts . To apply for exemption we use the digital Tenet system , we have done so for a few years now . In most ‘ départements ’ exemptions are issued promptly , in others it takes a bit longer .”
PENSION “ I retired in 2014 . Before then one of our vehicles was involved in a serious accident . As manager of a company you have to send drivers on the road every day and the risk of an accident is always there . Actually , if you own a transport company you are faced with risks all your life . Our company is doing well , but it has not always been easy . I ’ m still involved in the business on a daily basis , but I have handed over the management to my daughter . With confidence , because she has been working here for years and has enough experience to be able to manage Transports Chervier now and in the future .”
A conversation with Alain Chervier is like travelling through time . When he was young a truck had 150 hp and most semi-trailers did not have any steered axles . Gradually he saw the advent of strong and comfortable trucks and trailers with much more load capacity . He has a passion for transport and is a loyal Nooteboom customer . Alain : “ Nooteboom sells the Rolls-Royce of semi-trailers at a competitive price . I am retired now and I trust that my daughters will keep the same relationship with Nooteboom for a long time .” ■
■ The transport of construction machinery started in 1954
17