Shortage of Bulk-cement Vehicles
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TEE shortage of bulk-cement vehicles in Scotland was outlined to Mr. W. F. Quin, Scottish Licensing Authority, at Glasgow last week, when Messrs. Hugh Clelland and Sons, Muirhead, Chryston, applied for three tractors of 124 tons and three semi-trailers of DI tons for bulk cement, and a vehicle of 64 tons and ti semi-trailer of 2i tons for steel. cement and fireclay products in southern
Scotland. "
Mr. James Clelland said ' that they worked for a small number of large customers and were, in many cases, the only contractors. Their main interest was in bulk cement, for which, it was said, no other vehicles were available in Scotland. They also required a fiat lorry to handle cement.and fireclay goods.
Representing the Caledonian Portland Cement Co„ Ltd., Mr. A. Gillespie, . accountant for the company, gave evidence of production expansion from 60,000 tons to 140,000 tons, and said that contracts were in hand for schemes at the Forth Road Bridge, Loch Awe, Loch Ericht and Loch Lee, They must have direct-access transport in bulk tankers. As no other contractor had bulk vehicles it meant that Clelland had been forced to use his existing bulk vehicle after hours, which proved expensive. Inaccessibility of many sites ruled out rail transport.
Mr. James Dickie, representing Peter and Mark Hurl, Ltd., firebrick manufacturers, spoke of expanding demand fdr firebricks in the steel industry and of delays because Clelland was unable to give speedy service. They also had to work overtime to take vehicles when they were available.
He told Mr, J, J. Clyde, for British Railways, who objected, that. they were very rail-conscious and used the railways continuously. Steel industry customers. however, were ,_demanding road service. Palletization had increased and they used a contractor who could guarantee to return pallets. Sub-contractors were not satisfactory in their experience.
When Mr. Quin ruled that there was a case to answer on the cement traffic Mr. Clyde gave details of the railway's silo facilities for cement at rail terminals. He claimed that they could offer the same facilities for the sites operated by the cement company.
Mr. R. Mackenzie, for the applicant, pointed out that the railways had offered no evidence of available bulk-cement wagons in Scotland. It was unsatisfactory to suggest that either Clelland or Caledonian should operate vehicles from the rail point to the site. Giving decision, Mr. Quin granted two extra vehicles and two semi-trailers for cement work, but refused the remainder of the application, DEARER TYRES
L'OLLOWING the elimination of a 1 year-old temporary discount to dealers, hauliers in America are having to pay some 8 per cent, more for lorry tyres.
The reason for cancelling the discount, according to several manufacturers, is the high price of natural rubber during recent months, together with rising production costs.