McCallum Gets 10 Extra Artics on A Licence
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AN A licence for 10 additional artics of 100 tons was granted to Peter McCallum and Sons Ltd.. of Airdrie, by the Scottish -Licensing Authority at Glasgow on Monday.
Originally, the application was for general haulage, mainly steel, in Great Britain ", but this was amended• before the hearing to "Strip steel products for Colvilles Ltd., mainly in Scotland ", substantial reduction of the scope. Objectors included British Railways, British Road Services, Alex Scott (Contractors) Ltd. and Smith of Maddiston Ltd.
Reason foe the application was the steady growth of the strip steel plant at Gartcosh, part of the development of Colvilles in the Motherwell area. Mr. Peter McCallum gave evidence that coil steel was increasingly in demand, replacing sheet steel, and said that this traffic demanded special dual-purpose trailers having wells to carry the coil steel. He said that the fleet was fully employed and had been taking increased shorterdistance traffic for Colvilles as against
their older, long-distance trunk traffic. This resulted in a decline in earnings, but the fleet was stilt completely employed. Well-type trailers could not be hired, added Mr. McCallum, as none was available other than those employed on Colville's work.
The objectors sought to prove that 10 vehicles was an excessive application and also wanted to limit use to Linwood alone. Mr. Douglas Loomes, transport manager at Gartcosh, gave evidence that Colvilles opposed sub-contracting and would refuse to send coil steel except on well-type vehicles. McCallum was their largest road operator, but British Railways were an even bigger haulier, for export.' Gartcosh steel production was expanding arid would continue to increase.
The Licensing Authority, Mr. W. F. Quin, had no hesitation in saying that there was a case to answer. Mr. J. Law, for the objectors, asked for limitation of destination, but Mr. Quin ruled that the Cull 10 vehicles and the.small latitude in destinations were necessary in the public interest.