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Scots operators have their say
Page 18
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Scottish operators face less congestion than their English counterparts, but the Scottish Parliament's Freight Transport Inquiry is being told how tough things are north of the border. Bridget Carter reports.
Scotland's Freight Transport Inquiry might not work any miracles, say industry insiders, but at least it will put the spotlight on the difficulties faced by Scottish operators.
Almost 40 submissions from transport companies and representative groups have been received by the Scottish Parlia ment. which launched the inquiry into the state of Scotland's freight transport industry.
Most of the submissions highlight recurring themes, such as crippling fuel costs and the struggle to make ends meet in the face of the Working lime Directive and unfair competition from the Continent.
No easy solution.
Phil Flanders, the Road Transport Association's director for Scotland and Northern Ireland, agrees the inquiry is unlikely to bring an overnight cure for the industry's problems, hut says: "At least it brings them out into the open.We have to raise the issues any way we can."
Flanders believes the inquiry will prove hauliers have been telling the truth for all these years about their difficulties and will put more pressure on politicians to Lake them seriously. He hopes it will also "separate fact from fiction" and dispel myths, such as the claim that the problems with road haulage can be cured by shifting freight onto rail.
The inquiry stemmed from a petition to the Scottish Parliament last April. The inquiry committee could now call in industry representatives to give oral evidence by the end of this month.
Among the submissions was one from Edinburgh operator Veitch Brothers. Elizabeth Veitch says rising fuel costs have not been met by customers: -We're in no position to carry this burden any longer and must now seriously consider whether we can carry on or not.
Other transport firms echo this warning, but few of them believe there are any easy answers.
In its submission Aberdeen firm A R R Craib warns that all of Scottish industry is hit by high fuel prices. It says: "Industry in Scotland is being very badly affected by the high fuel price. Our distance to market place means the high cost of fuel disproportionately undermines our ability to compete both with southbased UK manufacturers and our European counterparts.
"At least two of the major manufacturers we deal within the North East of Scotland are presently under review by their foreign owners due to this factor."
The submission from transport company RG Nisbet says:"I wrote a letter just to support the inquiry, but everybody knows the problems. I don't think that it's going to make any difference!' •