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June/July 2017 Truck and Track 59
DANGEROUS GOODS
Pallet Network. Hewas full of ideas and shared themwith those
around him, leaving the finer detail to those of us who shared
his vision. Jim was a generous and unselfish mentor to those of
us who had the great good fortune to know him.
‘Always a people person, he convincedmany business owners to
buy intohisdreamof creatingadifferent typeof palletnetwork.
He succeeded in realising this dream. Jim was a great guy to
know, both on a personal as well as a professional level, and I
will always be grateful to him for allowing me the opportunity
to work alongside him – as he established TPN as a real force
within the sector.
‘Failure didn’t figure inhis vocabulary, and his endless optimism
invariably sawhimachieve his aims. A great guy to share a beer
with, he made a lasting impression on those of us who were
lucky to know him.’
– ADAM LEONARD.
I grew close also to Jim’s very dear friend and business colleague
Piyush Shah, CEO of Deltion Software, who kindly shared his
thoughts too about Jim:
‘I met Jim around 2000, and it was because of this chance
encounter that I set up Deltion. Our family became an early
investor in The Pallet Network and, after the exit to private
equity, we again invested with Jim when he set up Hazchem
Network.
‘Over the yearswe became good friends. Therewere some tough
times, but Jimwas never one to be despondent. He worked hard
andwas full of energy and enthusiasm, and a great familyman.
It is a shame to lose him so soon and so suddenly.’
– PIYUSH SHAH.
Hazchem Network started to trade on 8th October 2004, a night
permanently etched in my memory. I smile with the recollection
of trans-shipping a grand total of 43 pallets that night; smiling
when contrasted with the immense volumes of pallets and parcels
of Dangerous Goods we trans-ship today – and with the current
significance of the HazchemNetwork to the logistics sector.
Our help and advice is extended to our colleagues in the general
pallet network sector, via our affiliation with the Association of
Pallet Networks. Their Chairman Paul Sanders shares his thoughts
about Jim here:
‘On behalf of the Association of Pallet Networks it is with great
sadness that we were informed that Jim Scanlon had passed
away, Jimwas one of the sector’s pioneers.
‘Jim was involved in the management and creation of cutting-
edge transport methods which changed transport in the UK,
and he played a part in securing the future for many family
transport businesses.
‘Jim will be sadly missed by his family, friends and past sector
colleagues.’
– PAUL SANDERS.
We were amused at the time with the affectionate nicknames
employed when we were mentioned within the logistics sector.
Commercial Motor in March 2005 referred to us as ‘The Chemical
Brothers’, generously covering our first six months of trade.
Meanwhile European Chemical News called us ‘The Dukes of
Hazard’, reporting back from the 2005 LogichemConference held in
Antwerp when the Hazchem Network was awarded the European
Supply Chain Project of the Year.
In December 2012 Truck and Track covered our chairing of the
Freight Transport Association’s regulatory seminar highlighting the
changes in ADR 2013.
Sure, those times of the start-up of Hazchem Network were
incredibly stressful, but it was thanks to Jim Scanlan that I can look
back upon those weird days not only with affection, but also with
professional admiration.
Weworkedhard,riskedmuch,bothfinanciallyaswellasemotionally,
but we did it with the support from our families, the crack team
we assembled in Rugby, our colleagues within the sector and the
steely determination of shareholders and Directors. Foremost
among the latter were the Chairman of HazchemNetwork Michael
Coates, Gerald Coates, Chairman of HW Coates, Ken Hackling of
John Hackling Transport, Piyush Shah CEO of Deltion, Tom Coates,
Managing Director of HW Coates, not to mention initial support
from both Pall-Ex and Palletline.
Rarely in life does one get the opportunity to build something from
the ground up, in this case adding something of real substance and
value to the UK’s logistics infrastructure.
Today I am able to thank Jim Scanlan for providing me with this
opportunity and giving me the courage to take that first step into
business. For, as scary as those times were, Jim’s albatross-like
laughter kept me going, for, during that time spent assembling our
crack team at Rugby, we did feel like The Blues Brothers, getting our
band together!
I recall that, when Jim left the business in the Summer of 2005, we
stood pulling heavily on our Marlboros, and stared at each other. I
noticed his eyes were blurry, as were my own, and he declared:
‘You know, Ali, I am proud of many things in my life – my wife
Heleneandthechildren,theworkatFortec,settingupThePallet
Networkwith Richard Eldred, but the proudest achievement of
all has been working with you and our colleagues to set up the
HazchemNetwork, because it was so hard yet so worthwhile.’
Then he got in his car and drove off.
We would meet and have lunch from time to time, and he would
always mention how much pride he gets when he hears the
Hazchem Network mentioned in despatches as well as the growth
of TPN.
Today, I think of Jim Scanlan as well as his dear wife Helene and
their children, for thememories of his companionship always make
me grateful for the random nature of fate, for it introduced me to
this great man, this true icon, of the UK logistics industry.
‘Farewell Jim, from your dear friends in Rugby: we’re so glad we ran
into you.’
If your company requires advice or assistance with the logistics
of Dangerous Goods or any aspect of pallet and parcel Dangerous
Goods, then contact the Hazchem Network’s Nada Marinovic, as
we’re here to help you. We are the only UK pallet network dedicated
to Dangerous Goods under ADR, providing an award-nominated
Emergency Response service
Call Nada on her mobile 07712 662 431 or email
r more general information, go to our
website
© 2017 A.S. Karim
Jimwith a foam cannon
01543 420 121 VEHICLE
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