Growth of Contract A Fleets to be Watched
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I N a reserved decision, the Yorkshire Licensing Authority has granted an A licence to Harold Wood, Ltd., Heckmondwike, to run four tankers. The company applied for 12 vehicles. At the hearing last month, the Deputy Licensing Authority was told that the company had been carrying bulk liquids since 1923.
They had 42 vehicles on A and special A licences engaged upon chemical work, also 52 contract-A vehicles on chemical work and 126 contract-A vehicles on petroleum haulage. Since 1951, the contract fleet had grown from 21 to its present strength. Fifty-seven had been added in 1955 and 30 up to June this year.
Contract -vehicles, it was explained, were constantly needing temporary replacement, and more A-licence vehicles were required to confer fleet (Pickfords), Ltd., contended that the granting of A licences to a company whose policy was mainly to use contract vehicles could lead to a dual grant.
The Deputy Licensing Authority said that the "huge growth" of contract-A fleets was a comparatively recent development. It was a new problem and would have to be carefully considered.
NO READY ISSUE OF 15s. LICENCES
I T will be several years, The Corn mercial Motor understands., before 15s. driving licences of three years' duration, as are provided for by the new Road Traffic Act, will entirely replace the current Si. one-year licence.
A change-over to the new licences when the Minister invokes the Act will probably be done in alphabetical stages. Those persons whose names begin with early letters in the alphabet will be issued with the new licences when their old ones expire during a selected year. When this stage is complete the process will be applied to a subsequent block of letters.
Thus it will not be possible for every holder to claim a three-year licence when his current one expires. Those whose names begin with late letters in the alphabet may not be able to claim a 15s: licence for a few years.
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