Objectors should co-operate
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These are troubled times for the road transport industry, with vehicles off the road, redundancy, bankruptcy and voluntary liquidation all too prevalent. General trade recession is certainly a contributory factor to this gloomy picture but some hauliers believe that it is only one of a number of factors. the 500 and more new operators entering the industry each month being the real cause of trouble. Too many vehicles are chasing too little traffic.
However, if, as some of the established operators claim, many of the newcomers are undesirable in terms of Section 64 of the Road Transport Act 1968 then hauliers need look no further than themselves for the solution. The Licensing Authorities and their staffs cannot be expected to examine in depth each new applicant. What they should be able to anticipate is 'assistance in their task from those who have a statutory right to present evidence. So far, of the 10 statutory objectors only the Road Haulage Association has made any effort at assisting the [As at public inquiries —and this is hardly an intensive campaign.
The RHA is accused of paying insufficient attention to the voice of its members in this respect. The Freight Transport Association has said that it is unlikely to object. The trade unions have been strangely quiet while the police and local authorities appear to have observed a discreet silence. In these circumstances it could be assumed that all is well, yet the rumblings of discontent go on.
The Western area of the RHA has given a commendable lead to others by inviting members to furnish it with evidence of illegal operation: members' drivers have also been invited to help. Other areas would do well to follow suit. More, however, needs to be done. The time has surely come for the 10 objectors to set up a joint committee in each traffic area for the sole purpose of scrutinizing Applications and Decisions each week and thus taking steps to sort out the "undesirables" at source.
With the operator's business in jeopardy, the driver's job in peril and the road safety aspects of the Act at stake, such co-operation is not merely desirable—it is essential,