Long-Length Steel ---A Change of Attitude?
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'THE recent grant by the Northern 1 Licensing Authority, Mr. J. A. T. Hanlon, to D. Tarren, Ltd.. of Thornaby-on-Tees, authorizing them to substitute a rigid for an articulated vehicle (the length to be specified, of course), has caused a certain amount of uneasiness among the long-length steel " specialists " of the Northern area. Conversely, " medium-length " steel carriers will gain some satisfaction from the decision.
Tarren's put the view—and this is not the first time Mr. Hanlon has had this proposition put to him—that a haulier with the word " steel " included in his normal user is entitled to meet the needs of his customers for the carriage of indivisible lengths of steel, despite the fact that the intention has not been previcaisly declared, and it is known that other hauliert are concerned about the
use of Yong -trailers. '
Great stress has been laid on The precise specification, by number, -weight and (lately) length of vehicles to be used for the carriage of steel; up to now Mr. Hanlon has resolutely refused applications to substitute , or add these longlength trailers to the licences of steelcarrying hauliers.
Last February Mr. Hanlon refused a variation to T. A. Bulmer.and .Co., Ltd., of Middlesbrough, who had been carrying long-length steel for the Dorman Long group of companies for several years, relying purely on the word:" steel "in the normal user, and without having declared the vehicles to be in excess of 35 ft. in length. Dorman Long's supported the application, stating that standard-length Vehicles were unsuitable.
c18 H. L. Walker. Ltd., of Thornaby-onTees, have also been refused applications to operate long-length vehicles to carry steel, despite the fact that steel is among the commodities they can carry on their user. As long ago as December, 1960, they spoke of the trend towards longer lengths of steel in industry. In the same year, Mr. Hanlon's deputy told Walker's, who had applied for three extendible vehicles, that he had to bear in mind that hauliers "in this class of business" required protection. He granted them two standard-length vehicles only.
In the granting of the Tarren application there is a hint that the protection hitherto enjoyed (whether intentionally or not) by the long-length steel " boys " may not be forthcoming in the future. when other operators with steel in their normal scope apply—as undoubtedly they will—for longer vehicles.