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The ignored link
Page 91
Page 92
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lain Sherriff's excellent article "The Missing Link" (CM April 20) is, unfortunately, so true. Sadly one ponders, should his sub-headline have read "they have no desire for paperwork or even to be helped with it . . ." and, in this context, they deserve ". . their eventual demise".
Inter-Val started, two years ago, to provide an office, making administrative facilities available to smaller firms and owner-operators in the removal and storage industry. A comprehensive portfolio of all office functions was offered — insurance, accounting, financial advice, bulk buying, sales, advertising, etc, etc — to operators associating within the organization, without in any way attempting to control their policy or affect their precious independence. We soon found, however, that these operators preferred to consider us as yet another provider of one-off loads — work by any name — in which field we found it impossible and unwise to compete with the multiplicity of existing transport agencies.
Accordingly. Inter-Val re-formed and reorganized, turning its attention to the transport industry at large, appealing to smaller contractors and owner-operators on the same basis. A consortium of seven small contractors, removers, hauliers and carriers formed Inter-Val Associated Independent Transport Ltd last November to control and operate this scheme in its new broader outlook. First-class accountants, solicitors and insurance brokers were enlisted to help out with their specialized knowledge. Here we were, all set to help the little man. But, oh yes, history repeats itself with dismal rapidity and regularity and again we find that those trans port operators who have associated with us are interested only in loads and not in ''loads off the mind".
Thus is the ''missing link" not "missing" but "ignored".
Maybe if the anonymous agencies lain Sherriff mentions were to get in touch with Inter-Val, and the independent operators likewise, a chain could be forged which would be profitable to all and a lifeline to many. ANDREW LESTER, Managing Director, Inter-Val.