SMOKE SIGNALS — T HE change-over from bags and :tacks to bulk
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carriage is being accelerated by rising prices, the West Midland Licensing Authority was told recently by a representative of Leven Feeds, Ltd.
They were supporting the equipment of a fiat vehicle with automatic discharge gear and a detachable container for the bulk carriage of grain to farms.
Points made in support of the application were a 70 per cent. rise in the price of hessian in the past 12 months, and a saving to the farmer on bulk deliveries of 30s. per ton of grain.
An increase of 2 tons in unladen weight resulted in a reduction of carrying capacity for which Levers were prepared to give a compensatory increase in rates. The application was granted,
THE use of C hiring licences by commercial concerns, a practice greatly expanded because of the loophole it gave to private hauliers to stay in long-distance work during nationalization, has gradually gone out of favour following the many irregular operations which took place during that period.
In normal circumstances many firms find the necessity of employing their own drivers, keeping the books and generally running the transport side of their business, while the haulier merely provides and maintains the vehicles, is uneconomical.
There can be further complications, as was discovered by a West Midlands iron and steel company when they were prosecuted for drivers' hours offences for which, under C hiring arrangements, they were held responsible.
The result was an application to put seven heavy vehicles on a B licence so that the haulier could assume complete control of all the vehicles.
The C hiring had been properly conducted over a period of 10 years and. commenting on the excellent evidence given, the Licensing Authority said that he would like to see a great many more vehicles now operating under C hire transferred to B licence.
Divided responsibility, apart from being uneconomic, has often led Co irregularities.
THE Western Licensing Authority -1 has stated that he will not grant any more short-term licences without proof of need, following allegations that uneconomic rates were being accepted for some tipper work.