Biscuit Makers Want Bulk Vehicles T HE change-over to the carriage
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of flour in bulk instead of in bags had been of tremendous value to biscuit manufacturers and was expanding. Mr. C. R. Hodgson, East Midland Licensing Authority, was told this at Lincoln last week when Forman Bros., Ltd., Brampton, were granted their third bulk-flour vehicle.
For Forman, Mr. A. C. S. Rothera said they were among the oldest operators in the country and had a fleet of 60 vehicles, 54 on A licence. Two bulk-flour vehicles, licensed in 1958, were over-employed, and their customers' increased business demanded a third vehicle. The British Transport Commission, as objectors, would suggest that if bagged flour were being transferred to bulk, an existing flat lorry should be surrendered, but the figures would show that bagged-flour earnings of the company had also continued to increase.
The first two bulk vehicles had been introduced at the instigation of C. S. Dickenson, Ltd., Lincoln, biscuit-flour millers, said Mr. William Forman, director. They were now fully employed and earning more than £4,000 a year. They were also carrying for Messrs. W. O. and B40 J. Wilson, Liverpool, and Hovis, Ltd„ were also turning over to bulk transport. The normal schedule of the vehicles was three round trips a week, totalling 85 tons, but requirements were now 130 tons.
The change-over had been forced on the millers by customers' demands. said Mr. J. A. Cutforth, secretary of C. S. Dickenson, Ltd., and conversion of plant had cost £15,000. W. and R. Jacobs and Co., Ltd., and Messrs. Crawfords, Liverpool, were their main bulk customers. Messrs. Carrs, Carlisle, were also installing plant..
Forman Bros. were committed to carry up to seven loads a week to Jacobs and at least one to each of the other two. This totalled 128 tons, and three vehicles were essential. They were also supplying bagged flour to the new factOries of Cadbury's, Ltd., Moreton, and Huntley and Palmer, Ltd., Huyton, and requirements would be no less than in previous years.
Objecting for British Railways and British Road Services, Mr. J. Amphlett said it was a new operation which had been the subject of research by the B.T.C. Eventually bagged haulage was bound to fall and a grant here would release vehicles to do other work. B.R.S. might now take up providing bulk-transport facilities.
Mr. Hodgson, who commented on a well-prepared application, said that he could only think that B.R.S., in objecting, were searching for a weak link. A third vehicle was amply justified.