Freightliners to wait for 25 artics decision
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• An application by Freightliners Ltd. for a new A licence for 25 vehicles was heard by Mr. C. R. Hodgson, the North Western LA, in Manchester on Wednesday. There were four objectors and the decision was reserved.
Mr. J. Booth, for Freightliners, said the company required 25 vehicles to equip a terminal at Trafford Park, Manchester, in September. The other Manchester Container terminal, Longsight, was working at full capacity. From 27,000 containers in 1966 the 1969 total was expected' to rise above 400,1500. It was expected that 148 containers per day would pass through the Trafford Park terminal making it impossible for Longsight to cope with its traffic. The most suitable number of vehicles would be 27 but it was considered that 25 was a reasonable figure. It was anticipated that Manchester would form part of a container link between Norway and Canada.
The north western area superintendent for Freightliners, Mr. R. W. Hall, said that the advantage of the company's service was that it was door-to-door. The terminals were the key and most crucial point of the operation. Reliability was the principle of the company and containers could not be allowed to miss the train.
On the question of hiring, Mr. Hall said that this was not a good business practice. If vehicles were needed they would be hired at a satisfactory rate. At Trafford Park it was expected that about 20 a week would be hired.
Mr. J. A. Backhouse, for the objectors, said that three could provide Freightliners with 10 vehicles at 50s an hour for a 10 hour day plus 2s 1d a mile for mileage exceeding 40. Mr. Hall said he thought these figures were high and would rarely be acceptable.
Mr. W. E. Garbett, Trafford Park terminal manager, said that Freightliners' own transport was much better than hired vehicles. He said the total amount paid to sub-contractors in six months was in excess of £13,000. The total cartage revenue over six months was £75,000. A private haulier could meet Freightliners' need but not so well as the company itself.
Mr. F. J. Price, traffic manager of Kellogg Company of Great 13ritain Ltd., said that his company would require 20 30ft containers a day. It was his company's desire that this transport should all be carried out by Freightliners.
Mr. F. O. Taylor, of Hipwood and Grundy Ltd., said that his company could, on a regular basis, make three vehicles available for hire and the Manchester depot manager of Smith and Eccles Ltd., Mr. F. W. Neale, said that his company was prepared to make three vehicles available at the rates mentioned. He said the rates being offered were less than those published in Commercial Motor costing tables, Mr. J. R. Entwistle of JRE Transport Ltd., Wigan, said that he could make four vehicles available for a minimum hiring period of two years.
Summing up, Mr. Backhouse, said a grant of 15 vehicles would be ample in view of the evidence provided. A radius of only 30 miles was also considered reasonable.