Traders Urged to Drop Restrictions on Unloading Vehicles
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RESTRICT1ONS on loading an d N. unloading were reviewed at a council meeting of the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce on Monday. Mr. H. M. Lewis, chairman of the Road Traffic Section, said that notification had been issued by a number of traders giving 4 p.m. as the latest time that goods could be received or dispatched by road.
The effect of this, combined with the widespread operation of a five-day week, would be to increase the cost of road haulage, and traders were urged to maintain facilities for handling traffic throughout the normal hours of business, even if they were unable to accept traffic on Saturdays.
It appeared that in some cases the time limit for handling traffic was imposed unofficially by the staff in charge of the loading deck, despite approval by the management of an extended loading period. This reacted unfavourably on those concerns which offered facilities for a normal period, because drivers tended to postpone visiting their premises until they had called on the other companies. Dealing with terminal delays caused by inefficiency, Mr. Lewis pointed out that the building and modernization of premises were often planned without due thought to providing easy access for vehicles: Vehicle operators would, no doubt, be willing to advise traders on suitable layout.
Referring to vehicle delays at docks Mr. Lewis said that members of the section were in favour of further action being taken in conjunction with the Association of British Chambers of Commerce to improve traffic conditions at the ports
In the report of the transport commii tee, the chairman, Mr. E. B. Ellis, sait that road-rail wagons would be mos. suitable for bulk loads.
It was noted that the 10 per cen: increase in rates recommended by tilt Road Haulage Association was the firs increase in three years, in spite of th, effects of wage increases and other addi tional costs. The extent to which 01 increase would be imposed was, however a matter of individual settlement betweet the haulier and customer.