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'LEASING ALL THE PEOPLE

10th September 1965
Page 67
Page 67, 10th September 1965 — 'LEASING ALL THE PEOPLE
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

DETER1VIINEDLY treading the path of no excess, Mr. John Darker of "The Commercial Motor ", in the new Fabian pamphlet "Long Distance Road Haulage" as come as near as one could hope to fulfilling his aim of pleasing all the elements concerned in some degree ". On his lain proposals, however, it is unlikely that the degree of leasure would be sufficient to ensure that they are put into

fleet.

In some ways it is an attractive idea at a large group, comparable in size ith British Road Services but not Kier public ownership, should be icouraged as a method of "stretching" Le nationalized undertaking and .oviding a valid judgment of its erall efficiency. Mr. Darker finds uch to praise in BRS, but says that Ley have not been an unqualified !mess.

He estimates their profit per vehicle tr week in 1963, worked out on an /erage basis for the general haulage !..et, as little more than £3 and :•.scribes this as "a far from adequate turn ". Joint consultation procedures ive not prevented some commercially imaging strikes, says Mr. Darker. RS management have not enmraged the "free play of ideas" 2tween -the operating and clerical -ades and top management. The fltre has been "remote, cold and the verse of dynamic ".

n A SPUR

FOR BRS

A twin rival might provide a much ,eded spur" to the BRS organization all levels. Mr. Darker envisages no [fficulty in the setting up of the new ody. There are already several large rivate enterprise road haulage groups hich could be encouraged to merge r to work together through some iint operating machinery.

Another interesting idea of Mr. arker's is that a traffic-control system a the lines operated successfully by RS should be developed to encomass all appropriate long-distance thicle movements. To facilitate backading, the vehicles would pass on 'formation about their destination reas in advance. "The integrity of le system would be guaranteed ", Mr.

■ arker continues, by placing its conol in the "respected hands" of the icensing Authorities, who would be helped by an adviiory council of interested parties and would have the advice of trained staff.

Are these proposals merely Utopian? Mr. Darker seems to think them practical and makes suggestions on the way in which they could be put into effect. It is unlikely, however, that any political party or other influential body of opinion would support him.

MERGERS OR TAKE-DYERS

The Socialists would rate the success of BRS at a higher level than Mr. Darker. If mergers are to take place, the preference would be for complete take-overs or possibly in one or two cases the type of agreement recently concluded with the Tayforth group. The Conservatives would think it no business of theirs to encourage mergers except where the parties concerned would wish to join together in any case. To the champions of free enterprise the twinning of BRS would seem a dangerous move in the direction of complete nationalization.

Similar objections would be raised to the traffic control system regulated by the Licensing Authorities. Operators would be afraid that by surrendering their individual "traffic intelligence" to a central body they would be in danger of losing control of their businesses.

In transport, says Mr. Darker, there is a lot of agreement about ends and all too often disagreement about means. In the two examples I have given there is likely to be argument also about the ends. On many other points which he makes, however, agreement on both ends and means will be widespread. partly because in most cases the means would merely be legislation by the Government.

No one seems to have realized, says Mr. Darker, that with the ever increasing output of lorries there was a parallel need for intensive training of maintenance mechanics. The responsibility for meeting this need, he considers, rests with the Government There should also be persuasion from above to ease planning restrictions on new maintenance premises.

A ROAD AUTHORITY

Mr. Darker suggests a national planning authority for roads and the abolition of bridge and tunnel tolls. Improved lorry parking arrangements which he has in mind include the zoning of large areas near towns and motorways for grouped road transporl depots. Other proposals with increased Continental involvement in mind are for an immediate decision to change the rule of the road withii, five years and for the establishment or a " master driver's diploma" with a languages endorsement for drivers travelling in Europe.

Mr. Darker has one or two sharp warnings for the future, mainly because of the rapid growth of roau traffic. He forecasts an absolute ban on through lorry traffic in town and some prohibition on collection and delivery except at night or at weekends. He calls for a change of policy, "which seems to the transport man a relatively simple matter ", to persuade primary producers such as brick manufacturers to load lorries on Friday afternoons so that they can deliver to building sites on Monday mornings. It should be possible also, says Mr. Darker, to keep the docks open six or seven days a week.

What gives his study added value is that, with 15 years' experience in BRS. he can claim to know the longdistance road haulage industry from within. He is worth reading alone for his practical criticism of the Geddes Report. which gives a probably unintended irony to his initial assessment of "the logical reasoning of the admirably lucid" document.

Janus

Tags

Organisations: ROAD AUTHORITY, BRS
People: John Darker

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