'Mecca is now in sight for hauliers
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A PLAN which will bring organisation and co-operation to hauliers and forwarding agents operating on Middle East routes and help stamp out horse trading over freight rates took a big step forward this week.
The steering committee set up by the recent meeting (CM July 11) in Ipswich to further the proposed Middle East Carriers Conference Agreement, or Mecca as it is now known, have unanimously agreed to seven points on which the scheme will be based.
They also met yesterday, as CM was going to press to approve draft rules for membership and set a date for a general meeting of all the interested bodies.
The seven aims and objectives are : • To establish an organisation which will serve the needs and interests of exporters, forwarding agents, and carriers engaged in overland movements by road from the UK to Middle East countries.
• To establish and maintain a professional code of conduct and procedure, which shall be binding for Mecca members.
• To provide a negotiating body to liaise with the professional associations, and to deal at government level with matters affecting operations to and from the Middle East, • To publish tariffs for road transport which are equitable, and which will he enforceable upon all participants.
• To establish a network of agencies in countries of destination and transit.
• To act as a "bulk buying" group to negotiate advantageous rates for members. with equipment suppliers, ferry operators, insurance brokers, etc.
• To provide route cards with full up-to-date information for carriers and their drivers.
The committee will recommend that Mecca be a non profit making organisation with membership open to all carriers and forwarding agents who can meet the ethical and professional standards.