Total Respect Man
It is 5.30 a.m. on a chilly February Monday. The day congestion charging kicked off in London and I am climbing into the cab of Danny Matthews' lorry at the 3663's Battersea depot in Silverthorne Road.
3663 provides its customers with a massive choice of brands and products through its specialist divisions which provide a nationwide service. It also has its own range of quality own brand goods including Coronet portion packs, Springbourne water and its Smart Choice range of frozen foods.
I am going out on the road to deliver sustenance to businesses in the City of London. The orders have already been picked, engines are ticking over as the other drivers get revved up for their rounds and finally, when Danny is satisfied everything is in order, we peel off towards Battersea Bridge en route for the City.
Danny's day started earlier than mine. Picking of the products for orders, loading, route planning, maintenance and fuelling was all done before I turned up bleary eyed on the scene. We picked the week that congestion charging was launched in London and delivered to the most central part - the City of London. Hard to tell whether things were better because a) it was half term in the capital so people had taken time off to be with thier children, and b) because of that schools didn't need deliveries.
As the morning grew older, even despite the quieter roads, Danny had his work cut out as the streets are narrow, loading bays full with other vehicles, misplaced returns having to be found and signed for and there are many places where the lorry couldn't go. In one instance the lorry had to be parked a considerable distance from the goods-in entrance because of parking restrictions and a heavy pallet-load manouevred a few hundred yards downhill on a handbarrow - with just one man to do it (can't honestly say I was much help).
Deliveries were further hampered around Puddle Dock by double yellow and red lines around loading bays and this not even on a main road!
3663 is able to deliver ambient, fresh, chilled and frozen produce in one drop and prides itself on it comprehensive range of customer focused service offerings, specifically designed to assist caterers in the management and development of their business.
It is hard work for the driver as he is chasing the clock the whole time and customers do not take road conditions or delays into account. They are only interested in their own order being delivered when they want it. Some businesses had given Danny a key so he could put away the chilled and frozen food for them. That's service for you.
We delivered to countless banks, a nursery, a sushi maker, pubs, restaurants, wine bars and other commercial premises. I got quite good on the tail lift and at checking off orders but nowhere near as fast as the expert Danny who could scan a whole page of complicated delivery notes in the blink of an eye and know exactly what he needed to break out of different cases to complete the order.
3663 says it is is committed to delivering best value for its customers and suppliers. If Danny is representative of the company that philosophy obviously extends to the drivers.
3663
