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Mid-East hauliers co-op goes ahead

17th October 1975
Page 6
Page 6, 17th October 1975 — Mid-East hauliers co-op goes ahead
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Mecca objects to new rival

MOVES to set up an international co-operative for road hauliers serving the Middle East were initiated at a meeting in Felixstowe last weekend. Mr John Wells, former Road Haulage Association national chairman, who is behind the idea said that it was hoped to have the body operating by January 1.

But plans to set up the new co-operative have been slammed by Mr John Philips, the man behind MECCA—the Middle East Carriers Convention Agreement. MECCA was established earlier this year to serve the needs of all interested parties in the Middle East traffic, not only hauliers. The Wells idea is aimed purely at vehicle operators.

Last Saturday's meeting agreed that the only way for small operators on the UKMiddle East route to stay in business and prosper was for them to band together and cooperate in a Structure of rules designed to improve the image of the British freight industry. This image had recently been severely damaged, it was alleged, by the action of a few operators. The meeting decided to set up a three-man steering committee. One of its members— Mr Wells—said at a press conference later that he was pleased with the response to the meeting. About 20 people attended, representing 60 operators and 150 vehicles. The steering committee was to draft proposals for the establishment of a management structure which would eventually market the facilities.

It is apparent that the new body—as yet without a name —will have a similar structure to the tipping co-operatives, but without Road Haulage Association backing. Its main aim will be to market the services of small operators to international customers and cut out "middle men." It can be assumed that the "middle men" referred to are freight forwarders, for whom MECCA was largely formed.

Mr Philips, himself managing director of ABC (Forwarding) Ltd, in a statement this week regretted the formation of a rival organisation. "It seems a pity that having established the framework to create a nonprofitmaking association which will serve the interests of shippers, hauliers and forwarding agents . . that Mr D. Foot and Mr J. Wells of International Shipping Trustees should see fit to splinter these activities by seeking to set up, for purely commercial purposes, a rival organisation allegedly to serve the interests of the haulier."

In reply, Mr Wells told, CM this week: "If the shipping and forwarding agents want to set up their own conference that is up to them. But my interest is in doing something for the men who do the hard work and supply the hardware."

He went on to say that Mr Foot and 1ST had nothing to do with the formation of his co-operative : "It is entirely my own idea." Mr Wells said that his objections to MECCA were that it was impossible to have buyers and sellers together in the same organisation. At present some freight forwarders were undoubtedly " ripping off" small hauliers.

Mr Wells said that suggestions that he had a "commercial purpose" in setting up a co-operative were not true. Any profits made would belong to members and be ploughed back into the business.

Mr Wells said that he hoped that it would be possible to set up an office with parking facilities at Felixstowe's Routemaster motel. Expansion to other ports like Dover and Southampton was possible later.

Another member of the new steering committee, Mr J. W. Green, a two-vehicle ownerdriver, endorsed the scheme. He felt it would allow ownerdrivers to work more efficiently.


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