Hauliers Fear Loss of Traffic to B.R.S.
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mORMAL road-haulage rates were
being quoted by British Road Services for traffic which was diverted to rail for the greater part of its journey, whereas hauliers had to charge higher rates for such consignments in accord. ance with railway scales. The loss to B.R.S. would be absorbed by the State undertaking, and hauliers were anxious lest their business be gained by B.R.S.
This was stated by . Mr. G. W. Mousley, 'chairman of Coventry Subarea of the Road Haulage Association. Last week. He said that he had appealed to Coventry traders, through the transport sub-committee of the Chamber of Commerce formed to assist in the co-ordination of traffic during the fuel crisis, to direct their traffic through their normal providers.
In this way, he explained, many private operators would be able to continue the organization of traffic, including the provision of feeder. services, which had to be sent long distances by rail. Hauliers who dispatched goods could arrange for private operators to collect at the farther rail terminal.
Mr. Mousley told a representative of The Commercial Motor that he considered the co-ordination of all transport providers should be organized nationally during the emergency. He accused the railways of " cashing-in" on the fuel crisis. This was shown by
the rates for various traffics, which were sometimes as much as 3i to 7 times greater than the cost of road transport.
There was evidence, he said, that local B.R.S. staff preferred to transfer surplus traffic to other hauliers rather than the railways, probably because the traffic would be regained after the emergency and because a 10-per-cent commission could be charged.
Numbers of hauliers would probab4 hire railway trucks as soon as negotiations on rates had been completed.
Mr. G. Braithwaite, a member of the sub-area committee, proposed, that the Association should appoint a paid chairman of " first-class calibre" to negotiate with the Government. The chairman would report to the national council, with whom the power to make decisions would still be vested.
DERV DEMAND EXCEEDS SUPPLY
THE new Minister , of Power, Sit Percy Mills, said on Monday that Diesel oil supplies were a little short of consumption and stocks were being run
down. He thought that the present allocations could be maintained until the end of the current rationing period.
Petrol stocks were also being run down. Unnecessary applications for supplementary fuel would delay a general improvement in the situation.