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Cowboys' unfair advantage
WITH REFERENCE to the letter from Mr Mann (CM, May 26), there is no indication as to how Mr Mann arrives at his conclusions and regrettably Mr Kitson is correct in his contentions.
It is not a question that companies set their rates to produce low profit margins, but in these days when supply usually exceeds the demand, the obvious market forces which apply result in rates necessarily being kept at a depressed level.
Much of this is due to the fact that the so-called "cowboys" operate from the roadway outside their homes andr therefore, have no overhead structure to contend with as do the larger haulage companies. These "cowboys" often work excessive hours and do not observe statutory rest periods, which means that companies attempting to comply with the law in all respects are at a serious disadvantage. It is also regrettably a well-known fact that law enforcement officers tend to check on the larger companies, since any prosecutions resulting from deviations from the law can more easily be served on them than the cowboys, who prove to be somewhat elusive.
C. M. OLIVER,
Technical Director, Beck and Pollitzer Crane and Transport Ltd, Dartford, Kent.
Be British
HOW DISAPPOINTED and angry I was on hearing the news that Leyland Trucks' Bathgate factory was to close. Your magazine of 26 May 1984 carried a 15 page supplement of MAN-VW trucks. I don't suppose it was an advertising supplement paid for by MAN-VW.
I feel your publication spends far too much space on promoting overseas manufacturers who are struggling (IVECO recently, now MAN-VW) instead of singing the praises of excellent British vehicles on the market, and particularly those struggling (though aren't they all?) In the current economy, writers in your position are highly influential on buyers and you should bear this strongly in mind, considering the number of jobs and livelihoods at stake.
If British manufacturers don't receive revenue from selling their present range of vehicles, how can they find the investment to develop more up to date equipment which the industry is quite capable of doing.
And as for road testing the Toyota van (CMJune 2) and all the other Japanese equipment, you're guilty of adding fuel to the fire which the British manufacturers say is burning our industry away.
For the sake of our industry and economy please spend far more space promoting and praising the British trucks, LAURENCE GOLD
We are not in business to promote products in our editorial content. We write and report objectively and leave the marketing and sales of vehicles to those who can do it best — the manufacturers. We road test every vehicle we can get our hands on and spend many days endeavouring to do so. We are a British publication, our circulation is worldwide and we will continue to write for that market. CM is not a vehicle sales medium editorially, it is and always has been an objective news magazine. Editor Input wanted from haulier
THE Transport Studies Group of the Polytechnic of Central London has been funded by the Science and Engineering Research Council to survey the likely interest that small haulage companies may have in using micro computers in their businesses. This is part of the SERC's programme of research into information technology.
The group wishes to contact hauliers directly, by means of a short questionnaire, as this is the only way that their actual needs can be ascertained.
Any operators having between one and five vehicles who would be willing to complete a questionnaire can obtain forms from the following address either by telephone or by using the Freepost Facility. G. N. HINDLEY Freepost (No Stamp Required) Transport Studies Group Polytechnic of Central London 35 Marylebone Road
London NW1 1YP (01-486-5811)
A weighty problem?
I REFER to the article on page 16 of the issue of Commercial Motor dated week ending May 19, 1984, and write to draw your attention to the following aspects of the article:—
a) The address of the site where the Fuel Safe System has been installed is not Lancashire but Merseyside County.
b) the print out provided in an office remotely situated from the pump gives details of the quantity of fuel drawn, of course, and the pump number as well as the date, the time and the key/driver code number you mentioned.
I should be grateful if you would arrange to have the above aspects corrected in a future issue. In addition I would like to mention that the County Engineer's Department of the Merseyside County Council was responsible for preparing the specification for this fuelling system. It was supplied and installed by Centaur Electronic Systems Limited, Oldham.
The principal advntages of the system, as well as faster fuelling, have been found to be the potential ability to monitor and record data relating to the issue of fuel, as well as improving the security of the issue of fuel. J. R. WILLIAMS County Engineer Waste Disposal & Special Projects Division Merseyside County Council Liverpool
Oh dear
I WAS SURPRISED to see in the Toyota Hi-ace road test carried out by Bryan Jarvis (CMJune 2), that the clear market leader in the up to 2.5 ton diesel segment — the Transit — is not considered to be a competitor.
We offer two models which are directly comparable. The 120 van has a load length of 2295mm, an interior height of 1360mm and a payload of 1133kg. For those operators requiring extra length and height we offer the 100LWB (length 3045mm, height 1540mm, payload 1082kg.) TIM HOARE Chief Press Officer Commercial Vehicles
Public Affairs Ford Motor Co. Ltd
It was not intended to publish a full list of comparable vehicles. We selected two UK vehicles and two imports. Editor.
Letters to the Editor should be signed. A black and white photograph is acceptable for possible use.