AT THE HEART OF THE ROAD TRANSPORT INDUSTRY.

Call our Sales Team on 0208 912 2120

The Future of the Industry

14th April 1939, Page 29
14th April 1939
Page 29
Page 29, 14th April 1939 — The Future of the Industry
Close
Noticed an error?
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.

Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

SOME people are inclined to be despondent concerning the future of road transport, from the aspects of both manufacture and operation. We feel convinced, however, that there is no need for undue perturbation in either case. 'Certainly the whole business of road transport has felt the effects of the various influences caused by the disturbed state of affairs in Europe, but not to the extent of many other trades.

There has been little change in the total number of new commercial vehicles registered, any reduction being, mainly, on the goods side, but this has been compensated for to a considerable extent by vehicles ordered for military and A.R.P. purposes. The purchases of new equipment by hauliers and ancillary users naturally fluctuate according to the conditions of trade, and we cannot expect any great improvement in the latter unless the general situation becomes more settled.

Rightly or wrongly, we are not amongst those who believe that war is necessarily imminent or inevitable. When the general opinion amongst ordinary people in nearly every country is that a war would be catastrophic, quite possibly inconclusive, and would undoubtedly reduce the general standard of living throughout the world, it seems almost inconceivable that men who have had experience of the war of 1914-1918—and the dictators are included in that category—should really wish to throw their peoples into another Armageddon, in which millions of their nationals, mostly adverse to war, might perish.

Our Patience Not Inexhaustible.

The present situation appears to us as a huge game of bluff on the part of certain dictators in the hope of undermining the morale of the British and other nations. They seem to possess -little knowledge of the mentality of our nation. We may appear to accept with comparative equanimity some blows to our prestige, but once thoroughly aroused, like the proverbial bulldog, we never let go, and every, sectional difference is buried until the desired result is. achieved.

However, to revert to our own industry, there How. Unsettled Conditions is little to fear regarding its or a Possible Big War are engaged does occur. Some May Affect Road Transport of the factorieswould prob ., ably be turned over to the manufacture of war material, whilst the others would be working fled time on the production of vehicles.

Transport by road would then become a factor even more vital to the safety of the country than it is now to its economic welfare, Thcise of the railways which were able to continue functioning would have their hands and facilities fully occupied, and the services of road transport would be at a premium in connection with meeting the needs of the civilian population and catering for military requirements.

Road Transport's Strong Position.

It may be asked what the ultimate effect would be on road transport following the cessation of hostilities. For that we may look to the period of 1918 onwards as a precedent. The war, if it did nothing else, acted as a tremendous urge upon the business of haulage and travel by road, which took over much of the work of the then disorganized and badly maintained railway system.

Much would, of course, depend upon the duration of a possible war, because this would affect the wear and tear on the railways and their equipment. There would also be the question of the extent of the damage incurred by these as a result of aerial warfare, and at present this can be regarded only as an unknown factor.

We are convinced, however, that road transport would show itself in a most favourable light, and be even more appreciated by the people and the Government than it is to-day.

For these reasons there is, in our view, every hope of its continued growth and success, provided—and this is a point of extreme importance —that we build roads capable of coping satisfactorily with the great increase which is likely to occur. We must now, and in the future, look upon our road system as likely to become vastly more important than any possible development of the railway system.

Tags


comments powered by Disqus