Gloomy outlook
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eter Thompson's gloomy outlook for the 1980's presented at the Fleet lanagement Conference cannot be discarded lightly. Nor can his idgement that distribution, warehousing and routing are the areas which ,e can most profitably examine.
There can be no doubt that vehicles will become more sophisticated and lore expensive. Fuel will become more scarce and also more expensive. hese are facts of 20th century economic life. However if vehicle ophistication achieves fuel conservation it must be encouraged.
The distribution area is one which depends on people as much as vehicles nd if savings are to accrue from sophistication in this area the people rarticularly the trades unions must co-operate.
There was a clear hint that this would happen in David Buckle's FMC raper. However, as Peter Thompson pointed out, there has been little sign 1 trades union co-operation recently.
The latest development in the tachograph issue demonstrates the crass tupidity which certain union officials apply to important issues. It is conceivable that the drivers will blindly follow their leaders dictate and ,rork a 32 hour week thus giving up their hard earned wage increase of last anuary.
In the meantime of course the trike-calling union leaders will be n full pay. As with British Leyland ie voice of all the drivers must be eard. Unlike BL's situation, use f the tachograph is not a matter Dr dispute, it is law.