Buyers of Contract Units Discouraged
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APROMINENT London operator of contract vehicles told The Commercial Motor, last week, of difficulties that he met in negotiations before tendering for contract units offered by the British Transport Commission. They were so great that he abandoned his plans.
He thought it would be wise before bidding to find out from the users whether his company would be acceptable to them as transport contractors. The customers—a big combine—gave a non-committal answer, stating that they were "not aware that any approval was required from us before negotiating with the British Transport Commission."
A unit of seven vehicles at Birmingham was involved and the operator sent two mechanics to inspect them. They were given three-quarters of an hour in which to do so. As the expenditure of a large sum was in the balance, it was decided that, because of the uncertainty about the users' attitude and the short time allotted in which to ascertain the condition of the vehicles, it would not be prudent to put in a bid.
Unwise to Bid
In other instances it was found that B.R.S. vehicles were engaged on contracts lasting only a few months or even on a month-to-month basis. The lack of security of tenure again made tendering for the vehicles forbidding. Difficulty was experienced in gaining details of contracts from solicitors, especially as to rates and whether drivers were supplied.
Another operator who was proposing to tender for a contract unit called on the customer, who said that he had just been visited by a representative of who had pointed out that there was no obligation to accept the successful tenderer. He had added that B.R.S. had every hope that they -would be able' to continue to operate their contract
units.
"Don't let anyone run away with
the idea that we are a declining service," Mr. P. E Suffield, manager of the East Hull group of British Road Services, said at a presentation of safedriving certificates and awards to drivers, last Friday. "We shall go, from strength to strength until we are recognized as the finest road service in the world."
Details of many repeat, as well as new, purchases of transport units are given below.
NORTH-WEST
Fifteen vehicles and five trailers, including five articulated outfits (661. tons), have been bought by Red House Garage Co„ Ltd., Cromwell Street, Coventry. The vehicles are based at Liverpool.
Mr. T, H. Prince, 44 Arpley Street, Warrington, has made over the seven A34 YORKSHIRE
According to our Yorkshire Correspondent. East and West Coast Transport Co. (Hull), Ltd.. 112 Brindley Street, Hull, have made a further purchase of nine articulated vehicles. On August 6 The Commercial Motor reported that they had bought 10 articulated outfits from a B.R.S. depot in Hull.
F. Crowther and Son (Wakefield), Ltd., Sandal, Wakefield, have bought another eight vehicles and have made the following
assignments: one to A. Cooper (Haulage), Ltd.. 65 Wellington Street, Wakefield; two to Mr. J. Flintofl, Crown Hotel, Horbury Road, Ossett; two to Mr. T. W. Hughes, Chestnut House, Brinsworth. Rotherham; one to B. and A. Pasey, Ltd., Thomes Lane, Wakefield; and one to Savile Transport Co., Parsonage Garage, MickIetown, Leeds.
A new purchaser is Mr. 3. S. Hutchinson, Crow Nest Works Elland Road, Leeds, 11. He has bought ,five vehicles and assigned three to Mr. F. Schofield (H. and F. Schofield), Premier Garage, Manchester Road, Marsden, Huddersfield, and two to A. Sutcliffe (Haulage), Ltd., Crow Nest Works, Elland Road, Leeds.
Messrs. W. and C. Bradley, Ringwood Road, Britnington, Chesterfield, have taken over two vehicles, and F. J. Wright, Flaxley Road, Selby, one. East Riding Transport Co„ Ltd., 21 Witham, Hull, have made another purchase, this time of four Bedford 10-ton articulated outfits from a B.R.S. depot in Hull. They will join a fleet of 14 vehicles, and will be used to serve Lancashire and the Midlands.
WEST MIDLANDS
Mr. J. Frost, a disabled ex-serviceman, of James Street Garage, Wolstanton, Stoke-on-Trent, has put in many tenders and has at fast been successful with one for an E.R.F. 71-tonner. This is now running between London and Glasgow. In addition, he operates 12 vehicles, including two eight-wheelers, on A, B, C7hiring and contract licences.
Messrs. S. G. and C. 13elfield, J. Whalley and H. Hai-Cling (Belfield Road Services), Burslem, were taken over by the B.T.C. in April, 1450. They have purchased two ERE. 71-tonners,
A Foden 50-ton tractor and trailer outfit and an A.E.C. 25-ton tractor and trailer have been purchased by Robert Wynn and Sons, Ltd., 50 Shaftesbury Street, Newport, Mon. These vehicles are based at Hanley. A repeat purchase has been made by Mr. K. Beresford, Dunkirk Farm, Bignall End, Stoke-on-Trent, of 18 vehicles (961 tons) and three trailers. An assignment has also been made to this haulier by Beresford Transport, Ltd., High Street, Tunstall, of four vehicles (23/ tons). In turn, Mr. Beresford has assigned another vehicle (61 tons) to A. W. Lewis (Hauliers). Ltd., Church Garage, Milton.
Other repeat purchasers are Shcphard and Hough, Ltd., Earlswood, Hereford, three vehicles (121 tons) based at Homer Road, Hereford; and Mr. R. Mann. 120 (H1y5iltotnonsload, Worcester, three vehicles
New purchases of vehicles for which special A licences have been granted by the West Midland Licensing Authority have been made by Messrs. W. and A. M. Hayes, Forest Lane, Walsall, two vehicles (14 tons); Mr. J. S. Bartlam, Meir Heath Garage, Meir Heath, two vehicles (151 tons); Mr. Joseph Gough (John Gough). Great Western Wharf, Wellington, one vehicle (31 tons); and Mr, W. J. Weavers, Clerkenleap Filling Station, Worcester, one articulated outfit (5 tons).
EAST MIDLANDS 'Atlas Express Co., Ltd., 9-12 Shand Street, London, S.E.1, have been successful with yet another tender, this time for Nottingham parcels unit 2454. This unit consists of the Carrington Street, Nottingham, depot of British Road Services, six licensed vehicles, comprising four vans and two fabric-tilt lorries (17 tons), and a spare.
The vehicles concerned in the latest purchase wilt be employed on smalls services, in which the company specialize, running between London and Birmingham, Leicester and Birmingham, and Nottingham.
Mr. E. E. Miller, general manager of Atlas Express, told The Commercial Motor that one of the vehicles taken over from B.R.S. in London sustained four breakdowns on the first day it went into service with them. The cause—a piece of