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Page 55
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6 fit
With reference to the article "Drivers' network growing," I am an owner-driver operating with my brother four vehicles in all. During the summer months we are kept relatively busy with local work but come the winter, we are back to the "return loads."
As our vehicles inevitably end up in London or the Midlands, I always try to arrange return work the day before, obtaining as good a rate as possible, but have lost count of the phone calls ending in "Yes, there is plenty of work here, send your driver when he is empty."
Of course, when he gets there, the load has just gone or it is an extremely slow day_ This leaves us hunting round with our hours ticking away looking for another load. Then it's crunch time — do we accept a low rate from someone who has a load, or keep looking round until our time is out, resulting in a mad dash back next day to be in the yard ready for our regular work?
Now I know that the original return load should not have been accepted without a firm booking, but on some occasions this is not possible. The original load may take place earlier than expected and a return load required at short notice. It seems to me that some of the rates for these are diabolical.
I have compiled a list of firms that I will not deal with, but would fare better with the aid of other people in the same situation. Between us we should be able to set up some kind of register of reliable, sensibly priced work that is available in certain parts of the country.
The network of owner-drivers seems an ideal way of massing our strength, showing the haulage business that we have the numbers to ask for and get a fair rate for the necessary job we do.
C. L. GRIFFITH, '.fensa Haulage Ltd., Bedford.