RNA trails plan to itch loads
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/ The Road Haulage Association hopes to offer the European Road Transport Information Service computerised load matching system which is used by more than 3,000 hauliers on the Continent.
RHA international group manager Nick Barnes is canvassing support for the system among the RHA's international members. He will decide whether to proceed with it by the end of next month.
Barnes says: "Systems like this have never really taken off in the UK, but the RHA feels there may be a change in atmosphere due to 1992 and the Single European Market."
He believes up to 1,000 international hauliers could be signed to the system in this country, but adds: "The RHA will not make a decision on the load link service until it is satisfied that members are interested."
If the RHA does become the first UK representative for ERTIS it will probably use the system to provide additional services to members such as route finding, ferry cancellations and information about hazardous goods routes.
The cost of the system for operators will be fairly modest. Any operator with a computer would have to pay a ,250 annual subscription charge (waived in the first year) with a connection charge of 39p/minute (plus a 4p/minute microlink connector charge during peak times).
Barnes says it is not yet clear if the RHA would earn commission from ERTIS.
RHA international member Paul Grist, managing director of Browns Transport in Kent, is interested in the RHA plan. "We have an open mind and look at every new system that comes onto the market. The danger is that you don't know who you are dealing with when buying loads on-screen," he says. Grist believes the RHA, FTA and other associations should team up to provide a comprehensive service for hauliers, rather than make them pay subscription fees to join one system competing against many.
Iveco Ford was involved in a computerised load matching service called Teletruck which was launched two years ago at the Scottish Motor Show. A spokesman for Iveco Ford says the Teletruck system failed for lack of customers. Iveco Ford says: One day someone will come along and get such a system going in this country. You only have to look at the popularity of these systems in Europe." El The RHA set up a similar VDU load link service more than five years ago called Cargo Link, but was forced to sell the operation due to lack of operator interest.