Improve the Lot of Hired Operators
Page 23
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Many are Claiming that Their Costs of Operation Exceed the Rates for Hire and Will Result in Insolvency
By A. G. S.
AS a partner in a firm with vehicles on hire to the M.O.W.T. Road Haulage Organization, I am writing my Opinion of the hiring scheme generally.
Primarily, there is no doubt that the payments are entirely insufficient. Even with the most strict economies, and a well-maintained fleet of vehicles with no hire-purchase obligations, it is hardly possible to cover the operating costs, whilst as soon as it becomes neces• sary to have a major overhaul -you are well and truly in debt: and no vehielewill run on long-distance work, over a period of 'more than two years, without one. Should it become necessary to replace a vehicle you find yourself thinking that it would be much better to take it out of the scheme and scrap it, as you will never see any profitable return for your outlay on another vehicle.
• Of course, had the vehicles been idle Most of the time —as we were first told they would be—this question would not have arisen for quite a considerable time, but it does seem that t4ey are doing as much mileage as, they were prior to the scheme. I think an increase of at least 50 per cent; in the payments is required to make it an econOrnie• proposition for the hired• operator. There is, I believe, some talk of the Ministry increasing the rates.
Secondly, there is the driver. This scheme encourages him to be anything but a good, honest workman, as the present methods of payment, specially in regard to weekendtime spent away from his base, gives him every encouragement to try to arrange this, even if it means acting contrary to the Operator's orders.
I will agree that this point, at present, does not involve any loss of revenue to the operator, but should the time arise when it is necessary to get some extra work done in a given time there is no encouragement in the present system of payment for this. So far as I can see there is no remedy for this difficulty with the present road haulage rates of pay.
There is no doubt that this scheme will probably be , kept in operation. for a long timeafter the war, and for this, as well .as many other reasons, I feel that we must keep fighting the Ministry until We get a more favourable scheme.
Finally, there are some comments that I would like to make on the letter by Mr. S. W. Vinter, in your issue of December 10.
With regard to his first point, we are told that the scheme was to-save fuel and rubber. I feel this Was only used as a lever to put the scheme' across," and that the 1Vtnistry was preparing the principles of this scheme plor to the scarcity of fuel and rubber.
, Whilst his second point, about the inefficient operation, empty mileage and wasted hours, is true, I feel that this has been an advantage to the hired operator, as the lighter you are loaded and the less miles you run the better it is for you at present with this scheme.
With regard to his third point—that the payments for hired vehicles are totally insufficient—I fully agree with him in all respects, and there is no doubt that his fourt14 point about the loss of goodwill and extra work involved, is also only too true. I quite agree with Mr. Vinter that it is easy to be destructive and critical, and that it is better to try to remedy the general state of affairs. I do feel, however, that both the road operators and the railways should be able to make a paying proposition of their businesses and not have to fall back on subsidies to keep them going. •
With regard to his " IA " point—to scrap the present scheme and hang up 10 per cent. of the vehicles—I. think that; no doubt, this would have been the best possible arrangement, but I do not think that the Ministry will reject the present scheme now that we have signed up.
Coming to his " 2A " point—that the Government should take over everything—this is practically identical with the controlled undertakings, which we should all have been given the option of becoming. But, all controlled undertakings should have a fixed ratio of profit.
As regards the " 3A " point—that if the scheme stays weshould get an uplift in rates—as I have stated in the first part of my letter, I fully, agree with him.
Coming to the " 4A " Point—that controlled undertakings and hired operators should still retain their identities in view of the control possibly continuing for a long time after the war—I think that both the controlled undertakings and the hired operators should go under the numbers allotted to them and all invoices, etc., should only have these particulars on them.