Aid for the Free Haulier
Page 28
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AMOST important and significant move towards the freeing of road haulage has been made by the Association of British Chambers of Commerce This important body, largely representative of trade and industry, has, in a letter addressed to the Minister of Transport, stated how severely these have suffered from the radius limitation of 25 .miles imposed upon private hauliers.
It recognizes that any improvement may have to be gradual but insists that resultant interim limita • tions should pay due regard to local, geographiF1 and economic circumstances.
The present limit has, in many instances, placed farcical restrictions upon operators, particularly those situated on or near the coast, and in other places where they are cut off by a few miles from the only centre, or centres, of population to which it would pay them to carry.
As regards the future of British Road Services, the Association demands that they should be formed into a separate and independent tindertaking instead of being under the authority of the British Transport Commission. They should at the same time be completely reorganized to permit greater flexibility, regional autonomy and a competitive spirit.
There is no doubt that the Association has gone into this matter thoroughly, and amongst its recommendations to the Minister is that B.R.S. should be placed under the same licensing obligations as are private hauliers, -whilst the isSue of job-permits for the free operators during any interim stages before limitations on mileage are abolished, should be made by an independent authority rather than by the British Transport Commission. It is suggested that if these amendments to the Transport Act be tirade, industry and commerce will no doubt be prepared to consider some variation of statutory control in relation to charges schemes for road haulage.
The Association is concerned not only with goods transport but also the carriage of passenaers, and indicates in its letter that in the future it would wish to submit proposals in respect of road passenger transport.
Free hauliers will be glad to know that they have such an active and powerful friend at court, for there are over 60,000 members in chambers of commerce affiliated to the Association, -divided fairly evenly between manufacturers, merchants, shippers, etc.; in addition, there are about 700 industrialists and trade associations representing indirectly several hundreds of thousands of manufacturers and traders.