C-hiring Causes Concern to LeA.s
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THE large increase in contract A and C hiring allowances is causing concern
to the Licensing Authorities. This was made clear in the Annual Reports of the Authorities for the period from October 1, 1959, to September 30, last. The reports, which cost 5s. net from H.M. Stationery Office, were published this week. This is the first time since pre-war days that they have been published in full. The last reports were published in March of this year, relating to 1959.
Maintenance—and in particular the emission of black smoke—continue to cause the L.A.s anxiety. Once again the general impression is that small vans are the worst offenders from the maintenance point of view. Enforcement has clearly been stepped up.
At the end of December last, there was a total of 1,405,749 vehicles authorized under carriers' licences, of these 83,747 were A licensed and 7,550 special A 'licensed.
The Northern L.A., Mr. J. A. T. Hanlon, said that the "increasing tendency" to regard the granting of a contract A licence as a mode of entry into haulage required careful consideration when the operators subsequently applied to change over to A or B licences, The flow of applications for substitutions and short-term licences continued. In many cases, operators were finding difficulty in obtaining delivery of new vehicles, and were asking for a short-term grant to operate another vehicle temporarily, There was an increase, said Mr. Hanlon, from 788 to 1,008 in the number of prosecutions.
Black Smoke Prevalent Black smoke seemed to be prevalent and many delayed prohibition notices were issued in this respect. Registration numbers of other vehicles were noted and action taken to have the defect , rectified.
Maj. F. S. _Eastwood, the Yorkshire L.A., also commented upon the increase in C-hired vehicles. Many large concerns were replacing the whole or part of their fleet by vehicles hired from motor traders rather than, as in the past, from other operators. Traders were finding it profitable to keep a pool of commercial vehicles ready for hiring at a moment's notice, he said.
There was an increase in the Yorkshire area, also, in the issue of stop notices, says the L.A. " The figures disclose no evidence of any improvement in the general standard of maintenance of goods vehicles." As do several of his colleagues, Maj. Eastwood comments upon the number of non-attendances in court.
The question of C hiring allowances drew comment from Mr. F. Williamson, the North Western Authority. It showed no sign of diminishing, and he quoted Great Universal Stores Transport Association, which had numerous member companies, and held a C licence in the North Western area. It had, at the present time, 5,314 hiring allowances authorized under the licence and not one vehicle specified by registration mark. The increase in the number of allowances on this licence during the year was 950.
Unlike some of his colleagues, Mr. Williamson said that he had no evidence that operators were obtaining contract A licences "as an easy first step to securing a public A licence."
Five silent checks were carried out during the year and, of the vehicles inspected, 32.3 per cent. were found to warrant the issue of stop notices. These figures were slightly lower than for the previous year.
Mr. W. P. James, the West Midland Authority, had a tilt at operators who failed to appear at public inquiries. He had decided to refuse the applications for want of prosecution.
Contract A Increases
He reported that there was a substantial increase ill the number of contract A licences. In far too many cases it had been found that the contract was ended after six or nine months and, in other cases, employment of the vehicle had dwindled to little more than halftime, thus providing an irresistible temptation to the operator to use the vehicle illegally on other work.
The number of stop notices was still considered to be too high, and . the general conclusion that the condition of far too high a number of vehicles was unsatisfactory.
In the East Midlands the L.A., Mr. C. R. Hodgson,reported that 236 stop notices were issued in respect of 648 vehicles inspected in 12 major road checks carried out during the year. Continued efforts were being made to reduce the emission of diesel smoke and 800 warning letters were sent to operators on this subject.
There was an increasing practice amongst certain operators on constructional projects to use unlicensed vehicles. "I would suggest that main contractors on major road construction schemes would, in future, be advised to pay more attention to the provision of properly licensed goods vehicles before a scheme is commenced," he remarked.
The Eastern L.A., Mr. W. P. S. Ormond, reported little general improvement in the condition of goods vehicles. In that year 21.9 per cent. of all inspections resulted in the vehicles being found to be defective, compared with 27 per cent. the previous year.
Mr. ldrjs Owen, the South Wales Authority, reported that the standard of maintenance in his area was, on the whole, not unsatisfactory. Small hauliers and C-licensed operators were the general offenders in this respect. In all, during the year, 3,004 prohibition notices were issued. Mr. Owen, too, complains about non-attendance at public inquiries.
The increase in vehicles equipped with pneumatic blowing apparatus to deliver grain and feeding stuffs in bulk was commented upon by the Western L.A., Mr. S. W. Nelson. . Applications for licences for such vehicles were being keenly contested by those who had been first in the field, said Mr. Nelson, but it was a development that could not be retarded. " It is incumbent upon hauliers to keep pace with technological advances in their industry if they are to survive," he said.
C hiring allowances were still on the decrease, Mr. Nelson reported, the only L.A. to do so.
No Improvement There was no appreciable improvement in vehicle maintenance in the Western area. Enforcement had again been concentrated on silent checks. Seventy-five were held during the year, almost invariably being conducted between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. or 2 a.m. and 8 a.m.
The problem of emission of diesel smoke was "still much in evidence" reported Mr. H. J. Thom, the South Eastern L.A. Two special checks carried out during the year resulted in the issuing of 24 stop notices. The strength of the vehicle examining staff did not, at present, allow more effective action. A total of 16,125 inspections were carried out during the year and 3,439 stop notices were issued.
Metropolitan Increase
The number of applications for contract A licences and C hiring allowances was increasing, said Mr. D. I. R. Muir, the Metropolitan L.A. "Although I am unable, subject to submission of a satisfactory contract, to refuse applications, I am sure that the grant of such applications leads to abuses of the law," he said. "By a careful switching of hired discs held for different hirers, an operator is able to carry on, without risk of detection, something approaching an A-licensed business." it was clear that many hirers and hauliers had yery little intention on either side of observing the terms of contract agreements.
Mr. Muir also commented on the number of applicants and objectors who failed to appear.
The problem of diesel smoke had again increased and required further attention. Experience had shown that the problem was no longer limited to badly maintained vehicles, but also occurred with well maintained fleets.
The question of black smoke drew a terse comment from Mr. W. F. Quin, the Scottish L.A., who said: "Excessive exhaust smoke continues to be a nuisance." Maintenance had varied very little from previous years. A number of defects could have been avoided by regular inspections.