N FO may be less of a threat

12th May 1967, Page 76

12th May 1967

Page 76

Page 76, 12th May 1967 — N FO may be less of a threat

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to hauliers than feared By JOHN DARKER

the time approaches for the appearance of the White Paper defining the responsibilities and scope of the NFO speculation as to its contents increases. The organization, now expected to function early next year, may pose less of a threat to private road hauliers than had been feared.

It will not wield monopolistic powers; its ultimate threat—its ability to offer traders a better service at less cost than existing professional hauliers or, indeed C-licence fleets—has yet to be proved.

No one should be misled by reports that broad agreement has been reached between BR, the THC and the Ministry into believing that all the co-operating parties are fully sold on the revolutionary implications, particularly to railway freight managers.

If, as seems probable, the NFO is to take over all the conceivably profitable freight responsibilities of the railways, buying entire trains and integrating the services with BRS vehicle fleets, it is as certain as anything can be that some railway elements will prove obstructive.

Those who approve of Mrs. Castle's concept must hope that the indoctrination process has gone down several layers of executive authority.

As an example, if the NFO propose to schedule their own trains they will find that train timing is a highly technical operation, often demanding many months of involved juggling with existing schedules.

Much interest has been aroused by reports that the Organization will be prepared, on request, to reorganize the transport departments of individual firms. Undoubtedly, many large and small senders could profit from such consulting services, even on a fee paying basis, but the NFO will be fortunate to have enough able people to second to this work.•

Many of the large C licensees will view this offer with wry amusement in the confident—and often justified—belief that their transport expertise is superior to anything the NFO can offer. Though, of course, no one yet knows what freedom C licensees will enjoy to operate over long distances.

BRS cuts rates

Meanwhile, perhaps by way of practice for the strenuous trials ahead, some BRS rates are being savagely cut. For many years efficient private road hauliers, large and small, have waxed fat beneath the benevolent umbrella of an artifi cially high BRS rate structure. It will do no one any harm—though its effect on BRS profitability may soon be revealed—if competition between the State and private haulage camps hots up.

If the tight rates now being quoted by BRS were accompanied by faster scheduling, even the Prices and Incomes Board might be happy, but! understand that this has not happened.

Faster scheduling, at least for defined classes of vehicles, should be the main agenda item at the impending pay talks. The industry will have only itself to blame if it is afraid to grasp this nettle.