Length of haul
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Even if the new report is only a summary, as it is described, it ought to indicate sufficiently clearly whether the "determinants of demand" which have been the subject of scrutiny arise from a genuine commercial judgment on the part of the trader or are based on nothing sounder than prejudice or ignorance. In fact the document is of very little help on this crucial issue.
Most of the information for the report was collected in 1966 and 1967 before publication of the White Paper on freight transport and of the Bill made. completely clear what the Government had in mind. It might have been more difficult subsequently to get the co-operation of trade and industry.
Traders were asked to fill in a special consignment note with questions about what was being carried, the weight, the destination and the charge if a professional operator was employed. Extra information was sought about "special features" such as the use of containers, special vehicles, regularity and urgency. The consignee was also asked to help by sending details of damage and of the speed of delivery.
Much of the information obtained is interesting although scarcely surprising. The decision whether a trader should use his own vehicles or the services of a professional carrier is mainly determined by the length of the journey. It has, says the report, "an explanatory power five times as great as the next most significant factor". The longer the distance the more likely is the trader to get somebody else to do the work.
In contrast length of haul has only a comparatively small relevance in the choice between road haulier and rail, with rail slightly favoured for very long hauls. In this