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Hauliers ignore publicity and leave £50m in the bank
Page 4
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EXCLUSIVE • by Emma Penny
The Road Haulage Modernisation Fund (RHMF) is being under-used by hauliers because they don't know it exists.
Only 2% of operators surveyed by CM this week knew exactly what it offered; 26% had 'vaguely" heard oft, and an astounding 72% had never heard of the fund, which totals £81m in England, with smaller amounts available in Scotland and Wales (see pages 14 and 15).
The research, involving randomly-chosen hauliers across the UK, suggests that lack of knowledge is one of the main reasons the fund is being under-used. Once the schemes were explained to those being surveyed, 95% said they believed the £,.50m remaining in the fund should be rolled over when the project comes toan end next April, David Kay, director at Wolverhampton-based K-Transport says he's never heard of the fund, but would look at it. It needs publicity so operators know about it."
The man heading several of the RHMF schemes, the Department for Transport's Roger Worth, says he's disappointed with the results of CM's survey, "We used the 0-licence database to send out 90,000 packages on the fuel efficiency scheme on its launch, and we send out about 90,000 RHMF newsletters every quarter in publications such as CM, Roadway, Freight and TRUCK.
"We feel we have put a lot of money and effort into this, but perhaps we are having difficulty getting through to the right person—for instance, the person who does driver training in each firm."
Worth admits operators are a "challenging audience to get to", but nonetheless says: "It's almost free money and it's on a 'take it or lose it' basis."
Road Haulage Association chief executive Roger King says he's "disappointed" that only 2% of operators know what's going on. "Awareness among RHA members should be pretty high, but if operators don't read their mail, what can you do?'
He suggests the RHMF might have benefited from appointing a chairman to champion the schemes in the industry; "it could have done with promotion by a tub-thumper," adds King.
But FTA chief executive Richard Turner warns that operators should take advantage of the schemes now, rather than hope it is rolled-over, 'It should be rolled over, particular for training, but it may not be in its current form," he cautions.
News on any possible extension is expected after the next Road Haulage Forum meeting, thought to be scheduled for early July.