Traders transport
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"TRANSPORT, and in particular road transport, is a compli cated business and the rules and regulations governing the road transport industry, are, of necessity, complicated." So writes Mrs. Barbara Castle, Minister of Transport, in the 1967 Year Book of the Traders Road Transport Association.
Experienced transport operators will ruefully endorse the Minister's main statement though many will be doubtful as to the validity of her qualification that rules and regulations must "of necessity" be complicated.
Nevertheless transport men, of all people, must be realistic if they are to operate efficiently in an industry as inherently practical as road transport. So, as realists, they must accept the rules and regulations as they exist today, however complicated. And what they do not understand they must get explained to them by seeking the advice of specialists in the subjects concerned.
To make such approaches individually would be a difficult exercise for the vast majority of road transport operators, many of whom have only one or two vehicles, if only on the score of knowing who to approach for advice. This is a difficulty facing the small operator which can be far too readily underrated by those who make the rules and regulations.
But even if that were no handicap, paying for such advice on an individual basis—query by query—could prove an expensive exercise. To mention only two examples of the extent of the problem, there are 2'71 sections of the Road Traffic Act 1960 with a further 20 schedules, while the current consolidated Construction and Use Regulations 1966 run to over 60,000 words.
Fortunately for road transport operators, and particularly those with small fleets, the existence of an efficient trade association set up to resolve just such problems provides both an efficient and economical solution.
The recent publication of the Traders Road Transport Association Year Book for 1967 provides an opportunity to review the work the TRTA does. Obviously this is well known to members but there are still many C-licence operators who would benefit from its services by becoming members.
Particularly will this be so in the coming months when more stringent regulations on vehicle fitness and maintenance begin to take effect, with the inevitable increase in the number of vehicles being put off the road until the prescribed deficiencies are put right.
Understandably many C-licence operators look upon their collection and delivery services as an extension of their production, or part and parcel of their marketing and distribution policy. Consequently they tend to reject the fact that they are also transport operators and just as much involved with the law governing motor vehicles on a public highway, whether they have one vehicle or a large fleet.
Indeed it might be argued that the small operator could be more involved when increasing numbers of vehicles are put off the roads or alternatively have their present carrying capacity reduced as the more stringent regulations now enforced begin to take effect. In that event an owner-driver or small fleet operator could have the major portion if not the whole of the fleet put off the road—an eventuality unlikely to befall the large user.
Another reason why the trader with a few vehicles operating under C licence often tends not to consider himself a transport operator is the extent to which the service those vehicles provide is truly integrated with the manufacture or distribution of the products concerned.
With the large C-licence fleet, too, the actual operation of road vehicles is tending to become an associated if not subsidiary exercise along with distribution and marketing. As a result, a director or manager with these wider responsibilities will have less time to devote to purely road transport matters and to keep abreast of developments, including new regulations. Pertinently, this new TRTA Year Book has a whole page devoted to legislation which is expected to come into operation in 1967 or 1968.
Services and benefits which derive from membership of TRTA are many. They include detailed advice on licensing, taxation, construction and use of vehicles, drivers' hours and records or other aspects of road transport law.
Advice is also given on problems arising from vehicle guarantees, repair bills and the layout of a member's own maintenance facilities. Increasingly advice to members on resolving or alleviating local problems concerning van loading and traffic regulations is being given.
Those with past experience of the frustration and loss of vehicle time which can occur before credit-worthiness is established so that a breakdown repair can be commenced by some previously unknown garage will appreciate the value of the breakdown emergency credit scheme which the TRTA is to introduce soon in conjunction with the Motor Agents' Association. A vehicle inspection scheme is also in operation in certain areas.
Insurance and financial facilities are available to members through the auspices of the TRTA and so is a legal defence service should the need arise despite the legal advice which is readily available.
Among its range of publications is its monthly journal Industrial Road Transport which, like the Year Book, is supplied free to members. Other publications include a driver's handbook—incidentally with a 150,000 sale—drivers' record forms, drivers' engagement forms, drivers' catering and accommodation guide and cab notices.
Dealing now with the contents of the Year Book, the increasing complexities of road transport regulations which could affect the single delivery van of the local trader just as much as the large fleet operator is emphasized by the diary of legislation affecting road transport over the period 1963/66 which occupies three full pages.
Basic to traders' transport is the exposition which follows relative to the C licence itself, the goods which a trader can legally carry and the exemptions which permit operation with no carrier's licence.
Many traders are engaged in seasonal work and accordingly the advice given on procedure for using hired vehicles is especially valuable to those who understandably will have little or no knowledge of these finer points of licensing.
Despite the recent and acceptable exemptions from the need of drivers of C-licence vehicles not exceeding 16 cwt. unladen to keep records of journeys within five miles of base, this has had only marginal effect on the "productivity" of log sheets. The number completed nationally throughout the year must be astronomical. But as long as the law demands that this irksome chore must be carried out it had better be done correctly as laid down in this Year Book, along with an interpretation of the regulations governing drivers' hours.
Because ancillary transport has to serve every facet of trade and industry the types of vehicle employed in providing such a service is likewise diverse. Particularly useful, therefore, are the separate sections dealing with electrically propelled vehicles, dual-purpose vehicles, works trucks and trailers, pedestrian-controlled vehicles, dumpers, engineering plant, mobile cranes, personnel carriers, and vehicles carrying abnormal indivisible loads.
Successive Year Books maintain topicality by the inclusion of specially commissioned articles by leading executives on current ancillary transport topics. This year is no exception with articles on productivity bargaining and driver training.
Maintenance of commercial vehicles is undoubtedly going to be an even more crucial factor in the successful transport operation than in the past because of the tightening of regulations governing vehicles' efficiency and maintenance standards.
Accordingly it is appropriate that five pages are devoted to this subject, including a description of the TRTA maintenance inspection service. Incidentally the cost for vehicle inspection for one A and three B inspections ranges from £9 10s. to 14 10s. according to the type and number of vehicles. Originally limited to the Metropolitan and south-eastern areas this inspection scheme is being expanded to Lancashire and Yorkshire.
The relatively simple title of The Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1966 belies the complexity and obtuseness of many of these regulations. The clear interpretation given in the Year Book is therefore especially valuable to a C-licence operator whose specialist knowledge may well be limited to his own line of business.
Further elucidation of official regulations follows in the sections dealing with vehicle lighting, and such matters as loading and parking restrictions.
In the section dealing with vehicle costing, it is maintained that if no action is taken after costing has revealed shortcomings then it is the fault of management and not of costing.
Increasingly. C-licence operators are becoming involved in movement of goods to the Continent, and here again the TRTA provides an excellent advisory service and nine pages are devoted to this subject. Incidentally TRTA is an issuing authority in the UK of TIR carnets. Two useful tables are given of Continental regulations applying to 14 countries and the maximum vehicle weights and dimensions which respectively apply.