Mind your own business!
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by CM reporter HAULIERS should get new business by fair means rather than poach customers from each other, said Road Haulage Association chairman Mr Ken Hatcher last week.
" It is not hard to win traffic by offering a lower rate than the fellow operator who is carrying it at the moment.
"But it is an unkind and unco-operative action which may be playing some part in edging the unfortunate oper ator a little nearer the bankruptcy court.
" It has the not very satisfactory consolation that the man taking his traffic will probably be next in the queue," said Mr Hatcher.
Work together
He urged operators to work together rather than against one another: "There are much better alternatives and operators who work together will often be able to find them. Instead of fighting each other they should bear in mind that only half the traffic is carried by RHA members."
Speaking at the RHA Eastern area dinner, Mr Hatcher told hauliers that he had written to prominent industrialists about the advantages of using hauliers over and above their own fleets.
Consideration
" There is no doubt that the points I raised were given very serious bonsideration and in many cases are likely to be acted on." He said that some replies indicated increasing use of hauliers by industry.
He called on operators to make use of this untapped pool of customers : "Between us we can meet whatever transport need arises. If one of us does ilot have the right vehicle for the job there is bound to be another member who does."