International hauliers fear new freedom crisis
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BRI1A1N's international hauliers are becoming alarmed by the prospect of more liberalised European transport.
Clifford Wilson. from Wilson International, summed up the mood of the 30 international hauliers who attended the Road Haulage A s SOO a tiOu's in group meeting last week, by saying: "It will he a sad day for all of us if total freedom arrives. The days of the future in road haulage are going to be bleak."
He asked how many hauliers would have their profits shaved further through greater "freedom—. lie warned that it would be easy for foreign competitors to work in Britain, but said
British hauliers stand little chance of getting licences to operate in the other European countries_
But Bob Paul of Astran spoke in favour of the changes. "Take an interest in your customers, give them the service and you'll have nothing to fear from caborage,he argued.
Former Department of Transport head of road freight Reg Dawson told the hau hers that international haulage liberalisation is inevitable. "Ilarmonisation is the only way forward. And I do not say this as a Euro-fanatic,he said.
I le urged all operators to play a full and active role in policy formation. Particularly with cabotage (permittin: operators to carry two backloads on an international journey), matters are still at the stage where its exact form can be influenced, Dawson said.
Many of the hauliers said they will be unable to compete efficiently because of the high and penalising levels of tax that British hauliers pay.
"We should say: 'Yes, we don't mind, but our tax costs are so high.' It's a rare opportunity to get sympathy from the public,Bill Batho from Martintrux said.
If road tax is reduced and dery taxed more heavily instead, the situation will improve, Batho said. "We buy most of ours abroad anyway.he added.