Turvey turns on cowboys
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COWBOY OPERATORS came under renewed attack last week from the Freight Transport Association. Such operators brought the whole of the predominantly conscientious and law-abiding industry into disrepute, it said.
Speaking at a meeting of the Scottish Section of the Chartered Institute of Transport, FTA deputy director-general Garry Turvey said that cowboy operators should not be given business.
They offer rock bottom prices and then proceed to flout many of the drivers' hours and traffic regulations, he said. The cheapest is not always the best, he added.
Mr Turvey criticised the way that many transport users that had drifted towards third party haulage and contract hire were saying that they had got out of transport.
"Transport and distribution are integral parts of any business," he said. "By all means delegate the operation if it makes sense to do so, but never dispense with the knowledge and control that enables a company to take the right decisions itself," he said.
Getting out of transport could be translated into not caring what happened to the life-line of the business and could even be the road to ruin, he said.
The environmental impact and legality of the vehicles should always be considered, even if a third party is handling the transport.
Cowboy operators should not be employed, no matter how favourable their rates, he said.