Fair rates for hauliers
Page 17
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Tr seemed for some time that the Road Haulage Association had got itself into a cul-de-sac over the question of haulage rates and what advice, if any, they could pass on to their members. Having twice met head-on with the Prices and Incomes Board (the second time with the Minister of Transport as well) they appeared to be in an awkward position. Meantime, despite the price freeze, costs have risen and there is no doubt at all that, generally speaking, haulage rates are being unnaturally depressed.
Now, as announced last Friday by the RHA chairman, "guinea pig" volunteers are to be sought to apply for increased charges to the Ministry of Transport, which would then refer them to the Prices and Incomes Board. The idea is to force discussion and debate on the whole subject. After all, as is being pointed out by the RHA, the apparent national saving on artificiallydepressed rates is only shortlived and in the longer term is extremely harmful to the nation's pool of transport, since otherwise efficient and successful businesses are being forced to close simply because sufficient revenue is not forthcoming. This seems ridiculous when there is adequate traffic to be moved.
But in all this highly necessary debate on haulage charges there are some very deep pits into which the haulage industry must avqid falling. There is first of all the undoubted fact that insufficient time and money is devoted to maintenance. It will be very easy for hauliers to argue that one of the reasons for this is that they do not earn enough money from the currentlydepressed rates they are allowed to charge. Having leapt into that particular pit one finds a large stake at the bottom and is thereon impaled. What guarantee can hauliers give that the position will improve even if they can charge more?
Then there is the beginning of another "Square Deal" campaign from the railways (see next page), who are beefing about Government traffic being given to hauliers and suggesting that all traffic should go to them on a lump-sum rate. The complaint already is that rail rates are not really higher than road; it doesn't matter whether it is true or not—that is what is being said. "And now", they will say to customers, "hauliers are asking for more." Another pit to avoid along the path.