WHAT'S WRONG WITH BRITISH?
Page 24
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
I NOTE from Commercial Motor, February 22) that Texaco disposed of its current fleet of commercial vehicles to Tankfreight.
What I find is particularly disturbing in this transaction is that Tankfrcight is to replace a fleet of some 160 vehicles, predominantly Leyland. with an equal number of new vehicles, all of foreign manufacture. There are no less than five manufacturers involved with these replacement vehicles and Tankfreight seems to be saying that no British manufacturer can match any of its European competitors.
It seems difficult to believe that the best the British can do would not be at least the equal of the worst of their continental opposition, but this is what Tankfreight seems to be saying. The only other interpretation one can put on this is that Tankfreight is anti-British, with no regard for British industry.
I do not think Texaco is entirely without blame in this situation; it could surely insist that Tankfrcight supply and deliver its products in British-built vehicles. Texaco must in the past have been reasonably happy with British vehicles and in particular Leyland, having used them for a considerable number of years. Leyland has had problems in the past but is probably now better than it has been for many years and, from reports one reads and hears, seems to be as good if not better than most of the opposition.
Surely it needs the support of operators at this time. To register my small protest I shall not in future be purchasing Texaco products for my own or any of my company vehicles. D. R. Price '1 'homer Nr Leeds