Rates depression in light van operation
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• There is unrest in the haulage industry, particularly in the furniture removal sector, concerning the increase in light vani operators (CM letters, February 5). The increase in production of vehicles not exceeding newt unladen since 1968 is in excess of 100 per cent. It was in 1968 that light vehicles were released from carriers' licensing restrictions and it appears that a number of newcomers have made their way into road transport.
In addition to the furniture removal sector there are definite signs that parcels and air freight traffic are attracting the new light van operators.
The three leading hire drive firms of Avis, Godfrey Davis and Hertz told CM this week that light van hiring figures for 1970 were between 85 per cent and 125 per cent greater than for 1968.
Established operators are expressing concern that owner drivers of light vans could be exceeding the legal hours because, although they are bound by these hours, they are not required to keep journey record sheets. One operator observed that as owner drivers they would be unlikely to have any other kind of documentation, such as time cards, pay records or tax records, which would indicate how many hours had been worked. The fear in the industry is that these men will for a time at least cream off some of the available work by quoting low rates "and this they will be able to do because they are working excessive hours", he said.
A Ford distributor in London, Frys of Lewisham, said that sales of the 35cwt Transit had increased enormously during 1970 and that at one point customers were "forming a queue". Only now were they in a position to meet orders from stock.
It appears that an even greater danger to established operators is not too far distant. The hiring firms believe that vehicles in the range not exceeding 3 tons unladen will become increasingly popular as more drivers fail to obtain a heavy goods vehicle driving licence. This is the heaviest class of vehicle which can be driven on an ordinary driving licence.
Mr D. Redfern, of Godfrey Davis, told CM that his company would soon be taking its first batch of 50 D300s which have been bodied by Coachworks Conversions Ltd. He anticipates that this will become one of the biggest sectors of the commercial vehicle hiring business.