Tariff 'nonsense
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THE NONSENSE of publishing EEC reference tariffs for haulage should be stopped, according to the Freight Transport Association. The Road Haulage Association wants them to be more realistic.
The FTA is protesting against the EEC's proposals for a 21 per cent increase in the tariffs from September 1, covering cost increases from April 1, 1980 to December 31, 1982 (CM, June 18).
A spokesman said this week: "We regard the publication of reference tariffs as a wasteful, purposeless, ineffective and bureaucratic system, imposing unnecessary work and expense on haulage associations. Tariffs have no effect on prices, which are determined by market forces."
As the tariffs are supposed to lead to rates which cover costs and allow a fair profit for the operator, the FTA says the EEC should drop the use of current exchange rates to establish the rises.
While the RHA accepts that the present system is unrealistic and has no effect on the rate which an operator can charge, it is not seeking their abolition at present.
A spokesman said the tariffs for each country should be drawn up on a unilateral basis, rather than after long multilateral negotiations. That would keep them more in line with the true cost changes in each country.