'don't push it'
Page 17
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
ALTHOUGH recognizing t, it was natural, fair E reasonable for haulage cE tractors to want to adjust th rates in the wake of recent wage settlement Scotland, Mr R. Beckham, Freight Transport Assoc tion president, believes thE would be naive for operat, to think that their custom. will automatically "pick the bill". Mr Beckham . pressed this view Wednesday at the Assoc tion's Scottish area ann dinner in Glasgow.
Manufacturers were bot, to take a closer look at alt native distribution method haulage rates went too hi! he warned hauliers. "1 demand for road haulage not nearly so inelastic at might appear. IncreaE costs are bound to make r particularly Freightliners, viable alternative, in soi cases where they ht hitherto --been u competitive".
If some of the increases had heard suggest eventually materialized, th manufacturers would takE long hard look at their to distribution arrangements.
Earlier decisions to OE distribution in the hands hauliers had not been tak for mere convenience, had been influenced efficiency and low-cE arrangements, he sa Members of the Associati might now find themsek with no choice but to sta together in finding less E pensive ways of distributi their products.
Mr Beckham hinted ti perhaps even the standard service which hauliE offered to their customE would have to be modified contain costs and, as a con; quence, the total demand • transport would fall.
continued on page