COMMENT
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YOU SCRATCH MY BACK...
ymbiosis: "An interaction between two different organisms, living in close physical association, usually to the advantage of both." No doubt, like us, most operators who came across that word in a school biology class made a mental note to forget all about it. In fact it's a surprisingly accurate description of the kind of relationship hauliers should have with their customers, but rarely achieve. Anyone hearing the news that Merseyside container hauliers have won a rates increase might conclude they have a symbiotic relationship with Coastal Container Line. Others might say it's not quite at that stage—yet. Coastal recently brought much of its transport operation in-house after claiming subcontractors were unable to offer a competitive service. Road hauliers have been accused of many things lately, but uncompetitive? Let's be serious now. If there's one thing wrong with the industry is that it's too damned competitive, with operators falling over themselves to slash rates to keep business. According to Coastal: "They wanted too much money." Forgive us, but since when has wanting to make any kind of money in haulage, let alone too much, been a crime? The only way haulage customers and providers can coexist to their mutual benefit is to have an genuine understanding of each other's problems. But when that "understanding" starts to have a negative effect on your bank balance it could be time to look elsewhere for business.
• And finally.. They're not all locked up yet. When traffic examiners face being blinded by idiots using laser pens—and lunatics throw bricks at trucks from motorway bridges—isn't it time we started asking some serious questions about what's happening to ourselves as a nation? What's strangely worrying is that in both instances the aggressors were van drivers. Does this tell us something about van drivers as a breed? Probably that they should never, ever, be let near a truck.