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To See Ourselves

19th November 1954
Page 35
Page 35, 19th November 1954 — To See Ourselves
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

HAULIERS are in the public gaze. Industri alists and politicians are forming opinions—premature and possibly erroneous—of the success or otherwise of the denationalization of long-distance road haulage. These are critical days for free-enterprise hauliers and by their conduct during the period of resettlement the goodwill of transport users and the respect of Parliament may be won or lost.

It is important for the whole industry that the views being formed by industrialists and the attitudes and actions of hauliers in various parts of the country should be examined dispassionately. By doing so, much can be learned on both sides. For this reason, The Commercial Motor is conducting a survey of the progress and effects of denationalization.

The first report appears in this issue. It deals with industrial Lancashire and the findings are not entirely pleasing to those who have at heart the cause of free-enterprise road haulage. It is not necessarily representative of conditions nationally, but it is known that some of the views expressed are held in other parts of the country.

Users Expect Too Much There are faults on both sides. Some industrialists seem to expect too much from hauliers during the transitionary period. Those who Pressed the Government to denationalize longdistance road haulage argued that the cost of transport to the nation would thereby be reduced and there is a tendency among some users to expect substantial, overnight cuts in rates.

In particular, they wish small consignments to be handled at tonnage rates and claim that hauliers should be willing to take the rough with the smooth. Smalls traffic is, of course, difficult and costly to handle, and the average free-enterprise haulier with two or three vehicles has not the clerical and other facilities required to deal with it.

In any event, every load should pay for itself, and if smalls traffic were to be handled at tonnage rates, the charges for full loads would have to be excessively high to enable small consignments to be self supporting. The general level of haulage rates is not such as to allow smalls traffic to be subsidized by large consignments.

But while responsible operators returning to long-distance work are trying to maintain a fair level of charges, others, through ignorance or recklessness, are cutting rates unmercifully. Sonic traffics are being carried at only 10-20 per cent. above the charges prevailing in 1939. These operators will not be able to give satisfactory service and the sooner they cut themselves out of business, the better. Meantime, however, reputable hauliers will suffer and the cause of free enterprise will lose prestige.

Anxiety About Smalls As reported in The Commercial Motor last week, a prominent industrial transport manager has expressed concern about the future of smalls traffic. It was, he said, being handled efficiently by British Road Services, but there is no reason to suppose that the B.R.S. parcels organization, when transferred to private enterprise, will not function equally satisfactorily.

The problem of smalls traffic is likely to be greater in the future than in the past, because of the tendency of manufacturers to reduce stocks and to demand frequent deliveries of small loads. There appear to be great opportunities for specialists in this branch of the business.

There are bound to be some misunderstandings during the passage of the State-owned haulage undertaking to free enterprise, but they could be reduced to a minimum by co-operation between the associations representing hauliers and users. The air might be cleared if some of the bodies representing traders included in their programmes of meetings for the winter session discussions between transport users and hauliers on the quality of service required and on new problems created by changes in the pattern of trade.

The Road Haulage Association might consider holding meetings to which transport users would be invited to put their questions to a panel of haulage experts.

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Organisations: Road Haulage Association

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