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road transport offers no rapid way to success for those who seek to make careers. Recognition of administrative talent is earned slowly as a reward for accumulated experience and academic qualifications. Opportunities of speedy advancement, which were available after the war of 1914-18, are no longer present, although now, as then, there are many young men who wish to turn to account the experience gained during the war, of the operation and maintenance of commercial vehicles.
We frequently receive letters from them, asking for advice or assistance in obtaining responsible employment. Some point out, sadly, that employers generally demand pre-war experience of road transport in prospective executives, but their financial commitments will not allow them to work as fitters or clerks while they acquire the necessary commercial qualifications. They are just a few of the young men who achieved positions of authority in the Services, yet are now unable to secure comparable posts in industry or commerce. Their predicament is made worse by the steadily rising cost of living, and their letters spell disillusionment.
Experience that Finds No Sale These men must face the fact that their present knowledge is not a valuable commercial asset. The conditions of operation of road transport in the Services are quite different from those applicable to a commercial undertaking, in which military extravagance could not be tolerated. Accounting is one of the principal duties of the traffic manager, but it is not learned by military transport officers. The successful transport manager must be able not only to keep accounts efficiently, but interpret each item in its true significance and take appropriate action. That knowledge can be acquired only by careful study and experience. At best, the handling of military transport is no more than a foundation on which to build a mass of sound commercial experience.
Clearly, we must advise our inquirers that a long period of study lies ahead of them before they become qualified administrators in a complex industry. They should also be told that the road transport industry, like the catering trade and the Press, is an exacting master and makes heavy demands on those who serve it. In return it offers fascinating and well-paid occupations which afford its officers an insight into various interesting social and industrial trends, as well as presenting them with absorbing technical and administrative problems. To the enthusiast the prospects justify the sacrifices necessary in acquiring first-class experience. There is an increasing tendency for operators to require academic qualifications in their executives. This is part of the process Of development and of raising transport management to the level of a profession. By and large, it is to be applauded. The trend is reflected in the ambitious schemes of education which are being launched all over the country. Never before has there been such widespread interest in the training of the executives of the future.
Searching lor Future Executives Like the Armed Forces, industry must continually comb its ranks for potential officers, but must also provide conditions that will attract the right type of man. Moreover, the training of the executive-to-be, like that of the officer cadet, must be designed to bring out the characteristics desirable in managerial staffs, as well as supplying the necessary technical knowledge.
• We hope that operating companies will do all in their power to assist promising young men in obtaining the credentials without which they are unlikely to go far. At least one famous business house—outside road transport—finances trainees in university studies. We do not suggest that such expensive encouragement as this is necessary for road transport students, but operators should at least make attendance at classes easy and take a personal interest in the progress of individuals. A small bonus might be offered to employees who do particularly well in their studies with recognized institutions. This is done in a few instances, but might well be 'carried out more extensively. If every employer who is in a position to do so would—as part of his post-war effort—give prac tical encouragement to at least one keen student of road transport, an ample flow of highly trained executives would be assured. The problem of giving some of Britain's young men a fresh start, after many wasted years, would also be eased.
A Trader's View of Road Transport
HIGHLY controversial questions are raised in the centre-pages article of this week's issue by Mr. George B. Lissenden, who, until recently, was traffic controller of the great Lever Bros. organization. Certain of his opinions will, no doubt, be hotly contested. Some readers may feel that Mr. Lissendcn has abused the privilege of forthright expression conferred by mature experience. Others, less tolerant, may wonder why we have published the article at all!
The author expresses the views of a life-long buyer of service from all forms of transport. His attitude is essentially that of a customer—and who will be bold enough to say that the customer is not right?—whose only concern is to employ in its correct sphere the most appropriate form of transport and to ensure that all media are co-ordinated in a way that will give .the best service to the trader.
Mr. Lissenden does not appear to find the possibility of nationalization so' grim a prospect as do thousands 'of other traders and road-transport operators. We do not subscribe to all the views expressed by our contributor, but, because of his vast experience, we give them the space to which we consider they are entitled. Mr. Lissenden does not write without knowledge.
We shall be interested to receive the opinions of readers on matters raised by our contributor, but we would urge that criticism should be constructive and designed to rebut the several charges made by him against road transport.