More Scottish Steel Applications Adjourned
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THE series of steel traffic applications supported by Colvilles Ltd. (see The Commercial Motor, last week) was continued at Glasgow last Thursday and Friday, but some scheduled cases remained unheard because of the time taken at the earlier hearings. In each case, the haulage concerns involved have reacted to a proposal by the steel company that there is a need for more transport for steel from the various works and that such applications will be supported by Colvilles. British Road Services and British Railways were again objectors, represented by Mr. J. B. S. Buchanan and Mr. David Brown respectively.
J. and A. Smith of Maddiston Ltd. applied for 10 artics of 110 tons on A licence for "goods. mainly steel coil, in Great Britain ". Mr. James Smith, joint managing director, gave evidence of acute difficulty in maintaining service to customers. Any grant which might be made would only touch the fringe of the problem, submitted Mr. Smith. Breakdowns had been increasingly general because of rushed maintenance to keep the traffic flowing and the fleet position was now very dangerous, he went on. Certain customers had warned that they would withdraw their business unless better services could be given.
Mr. Albert Thompson, transport manager for Colvilles, clarified details of output and traffic requirements and some two days were occupied on these aspects. He gave estimates of steel production ahead, in keeping with the present expansion of activity in steel, and was ultimately asked by Mr. W. F. Quin, the Scottish Licensing Authority, to state the minimum increase in availability he required to cover the steel industry's needs and growth. For these immediate needs Mr. Thompson estimated 45 welltype coil trailers and 10 long-length flat platform trailers. The objectors contended that the 100 vehicles involved in the applications would be able to carry 1,200-1,500 tons daily, or approximately twice the estimated daily need.
Asked about rates, Mr. Thompson confirmed that they had ultimately been fixed by the steel firm, but said there had been prior consultation with selected contractors. He agreed that hauliers had been asked to provide the extra transport at the rates laid down by his company.
Mr. Quin gave a recess on Friday to allow the parties to consider whether any agreement could be reached, in view of the protracted and complicated nature of the applications. Mr. Buchanan said the objectors would be prepared to discuss anything, but that communal discussions with 14 applicant operators was not a feasible proposition.
Mr. Campbell Wardlaw, for Smith of Maddiston, asked the Authority to take action in view of the urgency of Colvilles' needs for more traffic and asked that short-term approval should be given. The Authority indicated that consideration would be given 'o any such application on its merits.
The objectors criticized the growing tendency on the part of haulage customers to regard transporting concerns as stockholders, and emphasized there could be no acceptance of a policy allowing the customer to complain if and when the haulage concern failed to operate short-notice demands or failed in the new role of stockholder which the customer was imposing.
An application by Moores Transport (Ayr) Ltd., for facilities to handle steel for Colvilles was adjourned to allow the company to prepare a breakdown of its traffic figures, Attention was also directed to an apparent deviation from its normal user.
At the end of the present series of hearings, Mr. Buchanan asked the Authority whether the next series embracing some Aberdeen hearings might be taken personally by him, to allow continuity and to avoid repetition of all the time-wasting information elicited during this present set of hearings.
Mr. Quin said he was very reluctant to trespass on the authority of a colleague, but there would be discussions with the deputy Authority on the subject.