BIRD'S EYE
Page 47
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By The Hawk VIEW Cutting Waiting. Time The problem of goods traffic outstripping port and dock facilities was one of the important points in the Rochdale Report, and it may be some consolation to British hauliers to know that, according to the U.S. Journal of Commerce, the slow movement of laden trucks in the port of New York is giving port officials "a man-sized headache ". I'm interested to See that the N.Y. City Council on Port Development and Promotion lays the principal blame on a lack of proper scheduling of deliveries and pick-ups at the actual piers. It believes that elimination of 'intolerable waiting time" would save the shipping and haulage industries millions of dollars a year. The way things are now, New York is in danger of becoming non-competitive as a port.
The city is going to "take strong steps" to apply a solution which has worked in San Francisco. This involves incoming road vehicles being held at a central checkpoint when their pier of destination is busy until they can move in without delaying other traffic. Of course, this assumes a sizeable " waiting area" at the checkpoint, which for many British ports would bring the situation back to square one, I fear.
Shattering: Midland Red, I see, had a
spot of bad luck recently. One of their buses was in collision with a lorry and a window was shattered. A prosecution followed because, it was alleged, the window was not made of safety glass. Defending counsel told the Worcester magistrates that all the other windows in the bus contained toughened glass—but to no avail, the company was fined £20.
But it is the end of this story that I like best. After the court had decided that it did not want to inspect the bus, defending counsel remarked, " I will have it moved then, because it is parked next to a No Waiting' sign." Priceless!
B.R.S. Politeness How many of you have had
this experience? You phone a number, ask for an extension (or a person), and then—because the line is engaged—you sit holding a handful of dead telephone until (so far as the girl operator at the other end is concerned) your arm drops off. I fume at this unnecessary rudeness quite often.
How pleasant, therefore, to be able to report that, when telephoning B.R.S. headquarters in London the other day, I again had the "dreaded waits "; but this time a pleasant, cheerful girl kept coming on the line to assure me she hadn't forgotten me. Three cheers for B.R.S. and that nice girl. Courtesy doesn't cost much but what a different impression. it creates. I didn't mind the delay at all!
Financial Flair Few readers, I'm sure, will
be unfamiliar with the name of Jim Slater. He is, of course, an ex-director of A.E.C. sales and former deputy sales director of the Leyland Group. At Leyland's he was much admired for his financial flair and as a hobby he advised colleagues on their investments.
The hobby has now become. a business, for Jim (at the ripe old age of 35) has set himself up as an independent investment consultant. His first client—the Leyland Group (they retain him as consultant for their pension fund). Apart from Leyland's, though, he now has more than one hundred clients on his hooks. On their behalf he handles funds totalling more than £3 m, One great thing about Jim-.--he has plenty of confidence in his ability. He doesn't charge a fee—just JO per cent of net capital profit per annum, provided that this is substantially above the F.T. index.
Now that's what I call a worth-while hobby. Anybody like to buy a set of second-hand golf clubs?
Drivers barred I must say that I sympathize
with the handful of Continental drivers who regularly accompany their vehicles on the ferry between Tilbury and Rotterdam and Antwerp.
For years now these men—and most of them have helped the shipping company concerned to pioneer the carriage of commercial vehicles to the Continent—have enjoyed certain privileges which included the use of all lounges and bars.
Now, without any prior warning they have been notified (by means of a slip of paper attached to their tickets) that they cannot use the first-class dining saloon and lounge/bar which are for the use of " full-fare-paying passengers " only. I gather that if they are invited even to have a drink with a passenger, they are declined service.
This is a great pity because, until now, the easy-going, informal atmosphere on these vessels has been one of their outstanding feature,..
Interested Party A good deal of the equip
ment used at the Southall eliminator of the L.D.O.Y. competition was loaned by Express Dairies Ltd., past masters in the art of running these competitions. One of the helpers there—naturally taking a keen interest in the proceedings—was Joe Dakin, last year's Lorry Driver of the Year. He was with five of his colleagues who are finalists, Joe will be defending his title at Bramcote in September. What are his chances? Says Joe, " I'll have a good try ".