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Motor? Does someone in the industry deserve a pat on the back, or a dressing down. Drop us a line at Commercial Motor, Room H203, Quadrant House, The Quadrant, Sutton, Surrey SM2 5AS or fax us on 0181 652 8969. Alternatively you can e-mail us on Miles.Brignall4rbi.co.uk CAMPAIGN COMMENTS
On reading Mr Norris's letter in CM18-24 February with his request for a four-letter slogan, how about DICK TURP BORN ANEW Or how about GIVE TA REST GORD!
I did meet my MP as you suggested and showed him all the relevant facts. He listened for about five minutes and then started to repeat ad lib the Labour party line. As he is one of Tony Blair's blue-eyed boys, I couldn't have expected anything else. Hadirealised this, I wouldn't have wasted half a day to visit him.
It might help Mr Norris to spread the word a lot quicker if members were sent FAR PLAY ON FUEL and RHA stickers, especially when they renew membership. Sending the faxed letter a week earlier would have helped as well.
Best of luck.
I) Norman,
FUEL REPORTS
I refer to the recent artcle and editorial comment on the "Attitudes to fuel efficiency" (CM25 Feb-3 Mar). I feel it is important to point out that the survey results you mentioned were available in November last year and that we were distributing copies to companies involved in our fuel efficiency research from December onwards.
This present survey sadly only reinforces the results from two earlier surveys. The 1996 "Fuel Consumption in Freight Haulage Fleets" produced by the Freight Transport Association (ETA) and the Energy Efficiency Best Practice Programme (EFBPP), and a smaller survey in 1990 by Ratcfiffe.
The 1998 survey to which you refer does, however, identify the key obstacles to raising fuel efficiency, and it is now the responsibility of management to overcome those obstacles.
Free copies of a recent report detailing what managers need to be aware of when addressing fuel efficiency are available from the Transport and Logistics Research Unit on 01484 472135/473210, Michael Coyle, Transport and Logistics Research Unit, University of Huddersfield.
COOL HEADLINE
The headline used in your recent feature on refrigeration units ("Cool it!") bears a remarkable similarity to our trademark (CM 25 Feb-3 Mar). Cool id is a registered trademark of LAC Vehicle Management Limited, which operates a temperaturecontrolled vehicle rental service. The logo is protected with and without the exclamation mark.
I concede your use of this trademark was through ignorance, although the choice of the Cool it blue and the use of the exclamation mark is, on reflection, a remarkable coincidence.
J Warburton, Chief executive, LAC Vehicle Management.
• Our apologies for any confusion caused—Ed.
RECOVERY COSTS
I write with reference to your article headed "M6 Recovery Costs" (CM4-10 Mar). Firstly, would say that it is impossible to comment upon the costs without knowing all the facts of this or any recovery. However, there are a few points with regard to police-contracted recovery operations that many people are not aware of: 1. All police vehicles must be recovered free of charge.
2. Police-contracted recovery companies have to collect vehicles that have been involved in crime free of charge.
3. Police-contracted recovery companies have to store these vehicles for up to two years free of charge.
4. An administration charge is made to the recovery operator, regardless of whether he is paid or not.
It has been suggested that up to half the work carried out on behalf of police forces is not paid for by anyone. It could also be said that half the cost of a police recovery subsidises the police authority.
Clearly, without police officers pushing work to their contractors they could rot expect these freebies in return.
I think the time is long overdue when vehicle operators should be able to exercise their right to nominate a competent recovery company of their choice—and that the police forces should be paying their own costs.
Robert J Chlvers, Wheatsheaf Garage, Basingstoke.
DOWNWARD SPIRAL
What a good letter in a recent Commercial Motorfrom John Benton regarding the problems in road haulage (CM 25 Feb-3 Mar). As an old codger myself i agree with what John wrote; I too have watched in disbelief at the constant downward spiral.
He correctly identified the start of the real problems in this industry. They started over 20 years ago and yes, we had a Tory government and a woman Prime Minister. Not only did she brag in Parliament how her policies had reduced the cost of transport by 20% in two years; she set loose an out-of-control steamroller.
Eventually, and predictably, whole sections of British industry were damaged or destroyed.
Once the Midlands was regarded as the industrial heart of Britain—before being almost made into a wasteland. Steel making, engineering, pottery, mining, hosiery and footwear, to name a few, were hammered. and some whole communities disappeared.
At the time I was employed by an Italian company with factories on every continent, including two in the UK. We could better the productivity of identically equipped factories in both Germany and in Italy.
What we could not beat, however, was the constant rises in interest rates, which eventually destroyed the longterm planning.
The factory still stands, but instead of employing 1,700 people as it did then, there are now only about 200 people there—a story which was repeated everywhere we looked.
Ironically, the then chairman of the UK operation had several other jobs, one of which was chairman of the Conservative Party; his name was Lord Thornycroft.
We need firm leadership for this industry, although we will have to join the long queue for recognition of our problems behind such sectors as the NHS, education, etc.
Eighteen years of mismanagement and neglect will take a lot to put right, and we have to accept that things will never be the same.
H Gee, Swadfincote, Derbyshire.
SHATTERED DREAMS
I started as an owner-driver 21 years ago this month, and having worked for the same company for the past 14 years I was beginning to think my future was secure.
I have just been told that I am now out of ajob.
Despite 14 years of exclusive service to them, Frans Maas of Brownhills have decided that in view of market forces they are reducing the amount of round-trip, driveraccompanied services into Europe, upon which they have built up their business over the years.
So, does anyone out there need the services of a dedicated 51-year-old with an M-reg 4x2 40-tonne tractor? I'm fully insured, with full ADR, and GSM phone for European traction.
I would also like to thank Ian and Jo Edgar and all the staff at Frans Maas for their support over the years.
Any genuine offers to Derek on 00 49171580 7057. Thanks. Derek Moody, Woodstock, Oxford,
DEAF EARS
The hauliers' protest in Parliament Square fell on deaf ears for one reason alone. This Government ignores all protests: even reasoned arguments are summarily dismissed.
The Labour Party has a pathological hatred of road transport. They will go out of their way to do it down. lithe road haulage industry had the bottle, which it doesn't, it could change at a stroke Prescott's mind about the value and indispensability of trucks.
Blockading will result in the police having afield day prosecuting drivers for obstruction, and the Exchequer benefiting even further from all the parking fines handed out. The traffic wardens would earn enormous bonuses.
And just imagine how many GV9s the ministry men could dispense, given a captive (and static) audience.
As I have said before, the only guaranteed way for hauliers to prove the benefit of lorries to Government ministers and the general public (not to mention its own customers) is to surprise the nation and withdraw, without prior notice, for three or four consecutive days, all roadfreight services.
Hear the operators whingeing about how much last revenue and fixed costs such action would incur? The ultimate cost of inactivity is bankruptcy. Give your drivers a
week's holiday; they deserve it. But give them all the same week off. What have you got to lose?
Hauliers continue to bemoan the shrinking market for their services. This is, to a large degree, a problem of their own making. Even in this week's edition of CM much is made of Krone's attempts to dominate the UK market for trailers, with the article speaking of one company owning 100 such trailers with another 75 on order (CM4-10 Mar).
Are hauliers mad? They have killed the truck-making industry in this country by insisting on buying heavy, complex, gadget-riddled imported vehicles; now they want to repeat the exercise with trailers. Can they not see that their own actions contribute to the shrinkage of the very manufacturing industry on which they rely for work?
Small wonder that British Steel always seeks to cut rates—they owe haulers no favours.
At the end of the day, where is the profit in having no loads to carry except tins of baked beans to Sainsbury's at rates the customer fixed? Even container haulage relies on two-way traffic.
Very soon Britain will cease to be a trading nation, because we will produce nothing to trade with.
A final question. How many hauliers (or magazine editors) buy foreign cars? My last boss owned a Mercedes-Benz, a Renault and a Volvo. He went bankrupt.
John Benton, Moxley, West Midlands.
VOLVO'S SURPRISE
I am writing regarding your article giving details of Tipcon '99 (CM25 Feb-3 Mar).
Being a Volvo tipper ownerdriver myself, I noted with disbelief that Volvo will definitely not be attending. I was eagerly awaiting the launch of the new FM in tipper form, as I have driven the old reliable FLs for over 12 years.
I can't for the life of me see why a truck builder like Volvo, which has a major share of the rigid tipper market, is not anxious to display its longawaited new general model to all tipper operators.
C Gallagher, Donegal, Ireland.