Big Fleets Radiate from the Highlands .

11th November 1955, Page 159

11th November 1955

Page 159

Page 159, 11th November 1955 — Big Fleets Radiate from the Highlands .

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W. M. Hunter and Mr. G. D. Dow are directors of a recently formed company under thetitle of Associated Scottish Hauliers. This organization is intended to give reciprocal coverage on long-distance transport over a wide area. Jointly the directors control something well in excess of 500 vehicles.

Peter Saddler and Co., Ltd., of Leith, is Mr. Dow's organization; it has strong connections in Liverpool. Mr, Hunter's headquarters are at Airdrie.

Mr. Alexander was, of course, a dominant figure in road haulage in north-east Scotland in pre-nationalization days. He started in a small way in the middle 'twenties, by the beginning of the war had 60 vehicles, and at the time of nationalization he possessed 121 vehicles and 30 trailers. His recent acquisitions mean that he is running well over 200 lorries from Aberdeen.

Like everybody else, the Alexander Group has had to accept what was in the 13.R.S. schedule and in con. sequence the fleet is greatly mixed, but the aim is to standardize on good makes. of platform vehicle.

A dally service is run to Inverness and Elgin and large quantities of fish are transported throughout the United Kingdom.Furniture is probably the only substantial class of traffic which is not handled at some time or another by this fleet A short time ago Mr. Alexander told me that the most unusual load of the year had been the jaw bone of a hippopotamus, which was being moved from one museum to another.

A new feature in the group's activities is livestock transport, a unit functioning in this sphere having recently been acquired from the nationalized undertaking.

FARTHER north I observed the substantial fleet of Sutherlands of Peterhead (Road Hauliers), Ltd., of which company Mr, E. C. Wilson, one-time manager of B.R.S. NorthEast Scotland Group, is manager. This company • is associated with Highland Haulage, Ltd., of which Mr. Wilson is a director. Another director is Mr. W. R. Wisely, a pre nationalization operator in Aberdeen and for a period B.R.S. district manager there.

The moving spirit at the Highland Haulage headquarters at Inverness is the director, Mr. W. H. MacLennan, who was B.R.S. Inverness Group manager and previously an independent operator in the district.

The company has its headquarters in a most modern depot on the Longman Industrial Estate and the unit acquired also included the depot

at Conon Bridge, Dingwall. The acquisition comprised 34 licensed vehicles and four trailers, plus some additional units, at Inverness and 12 licensed vehicles, with two trailers, at Dingwall. The fleet covers articulated outfits, tippers and livestock, meat and furniture containers.

Mr. MacLennan told me that the company principally served the Highland area, which includes the counties of Moray and Nairn, Inverness-shire, Ross-shire, Sutherland and Caithness. Over that territory the company provides a general transport service designed to meet the special requirements of a community whose main industries are farming, fishing, distilling and forestry.

Service for Smalls

Regular parcels deliveries are at present being operated throughout the area and are being extended. Meantime, regular deliveries are made north of Inverness as far as Wick and Thurso, into the Tain area, south of Inverness to Fort William, and south-east of Inverness to the Aviemore-Grantown area.

Close co-operation is maintained with other operators, so that it is possible for industry in the areas mentioned to obtain connectiorrs to distant parts of the country. Extensive back-loading facilities are provided at the company's Inverness depot where, in addition, a breakdown service is available to cover the whole area. The makes of vehicle used are mainly Albion, E.R.F. and Seddon. In order to provide special facilities for the fishing industry, branch offices are maintained at Gareloch, Ullapool and Wick.

In tackling the somewhat formidable task of examining the new set- up I have tried to sketch the bold outlines of the position as I see it, but, of course, many other fleets have passed into private ownership up and down the country.