COMPETITION AT 40 TONNES
Page 26
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I FEEL compelled to reply to the letter Irons Mr A. R. Goss (CM, January 25).
While I agree with his comments concerning possible increased cost of road fund licences, I cannot go along with many of his later remarks. In particular, it is quite clear that Mr Goss is biased against the larger vehicle because if heavier weights are brought in there would be less scope for the small vehicle operator. Far from there being greater congestion on the roads if larger lorries were permitted, there would, I think, be less, as is pointed out on page 4 of the same edition.
For those who at present operate at 38 tonnes, there would be little or no mechanical improvements to be made to vehicles to allow them to carry 40 tonnes GVW, and therefore there would be no loss to the maximum payload.
As an own-account operator who holds a standard operator's licence, I sometimes seek work for my vehicles on the hire or reward market and I have found that one of the main reasons why customers will not allow hauliers to increase their rates is due to the "cowboy" element of our industry dragging respectable operators down.
In Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire there seems to be an abundance of hauliers who slash rates, and to do this they must, without doubt, encourage their drivers to break the law, and fail to maintain their vehicles to the required standard. If it were possible for hauliers to unite and rid the industry of the cowboy operators we would he able to standardise rates and command a true rate for the job.
Mr Goss says that he would like to see much of the bulk transport carried by rail. Would he perhaps like to see the road haulage industry phased out completely and along with its the allied trades such as garages and bodybuilders?
As for his comments in improving the road network, to this I give my wholehearted support. This would enable us to provide a more costeffective service to our customers which after all is the name of the game.
Perhaps it is time for the RHA and PTA to "Cut the cackleand help us to achieve these aims, enabling our industry to flourish.
M. S. Medden
Transport Manager _fordans Biggleswade
Bed.kidshire