Wear the Badge of Free Enterprise
Page 30
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NEVER before have members of the road haulage industry shown so emphatically their lack of co-operation, lack of cohesion, apathy, or complete absence of any sort of appreciation of the value of propaganda and of publicity as in the matter of the badges which the Road Haulage Association has provided to affix to the windscreens, doors or sides of vehicles of its members.
These badges are designed to proclaim to the public that free-enterprise hauliers in vast numbers are still operating, and are still available, with certain limitations, to render that personal and efficient service which traders and the public generally have been accustomed to expect. The badges are admirably designed for the purpose; they are attractive, artistic and striking enough to ensure that they will catch the eye of the passer-by. They are far better in those respects than the hungry lion which is emblazoned on the doors of the vehicles of British Road Services. They ought to be on every free-enterprise haulier's vehicles, but they are not.
Why is this so? It is not because of lack of energy on the part of the R.H.A. in bringing these badges and their purpose to the notice of members. On the contrary, the Association has been most energetic in this matter. In the Metropolitan Area alone it is understood that 5,000 badges have been distributed. Where are they? The objection to their use cannot be the cost, for they are cheap enough to satisfy anyone. It cannot be that the size is wrong, for they are available in three convenient patterns.
It has been suggested that many operators are afraid to show the badge. They fear that vehicles carrying it may meet difficulties at the docks and other collecting points for traffic. They are said also to suspect that the proclamation of free enterprise will invite attention from the Road Haulage Executive.
These fears may be dismissed as imaginary. It is reported that no case of delay or trouble at the docks or elsewhere has yet been experienced. Moreover, the badge tells the officials of the R.H.E. no more than they already know.
Every haulier should put the badge on every one of his vehicles. This is the time when all should pull together and when the free-enterprise section of the industry should show its strength. Aggressive methods are desirable and may go a long way to achieve some of the objectives publicized during the recent R.H.A. conference.