Fair play
Page 48
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• What is happening to the haulage industry? The rates are atrocious; we are in 1991 not 1891 and yet we are unable to earn a living wage.
The running costs for this industry are phenomenal, for example vehicle finance, trailer hire, fuel, repairs, ferries, tolls, interest rates — they are all rising.
Then we come to our customers. Some are excellent, but the majority offer us work which we find is fourth or fifth hand, so the rate is bottom line by the time it reaches the people who have completed the work. Then eventually time comes for payment, which is an even bigger joke.
From experience, we have had to write off monies from at least five different companies during the past year who have conveniently closed down or disappeared owing us thousands.
To be a HGV1 Continental driver must be one of the most under-rated professions — qualifications inlcude: ambassador, bi-linguist, secretry, filing clerk, mechanic, loader and driver.
The driver is also responsible for any mistakes which can lead to heavy fines, vehicle impoundment and prison.
We live on an island and we provide a necessary service for the country to survive. Why should we be penalised for doing a job of work? It is about time that the correct rate is paid to the haulier and not the parasites in between, with a law to protect us from them.
I believe in fair competition, but why should these people be allowed to quote for work when they have no facilities to do the job except a telephone? So come on British industry, give the right people a fair chance.
One suggestion would be a central point where owner-drivers could lodge their experiences of not receiving payment for work completed, bad or slow payers, and also any slight hints of a firm _ about to close down. Margaret Hall Mother-in-law of Paul Ashwell, Milton Keynes,Bucks.