Unrest in Many Quarters About Tipper Work
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FROM A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
r-V A CONSIDERABLE amount of unrest continues among tipping vehicle owners and constructional organizations in various parts of the country as
a result of the activities of some newcomers. Building schemes of the magnitude of some now in progress have introduced fresh elements into this field, but the activities of the " pirate " section of the sub-contractors are coming in for closer scrutiny than hitherto. Recent statements in traffic courts, showing nearly 50 tippers to be unemployed in the North West, emphasize the serious position that can develop.
Conditions during the past year or two have encouraged inexperienced men to take up haulage on major contracts, owner-operators often cutting into the sphere by accepting low rates.
Whilst many people will sympathize with the desire of a driver to set up on his own account, examples have come to light of contractors for transport who, to say the least, have been insufficiently critical in their approach to the engagement of such mew One Licensing Authority said that a spot check on one site revealed that several of the tippers were being run by drivers who had never even applied for a carrier's licence. Other investigations showed that a number of the registered owners of vehicles had lodging house addresses, appearing to be virtually persons of no fixed abode. Elsewhere there have been reports of owners being of foreign origin, with little knowledge of British law or customs, and of gipsy women being engaged as tipper drivers.
Instances such as these have meant that both local authority officers and transport officials of constructional companies have recently been giving the position increasingly close scrutiny. There is no doubt that the finance houses are examining applications for advances on tipping vehicles with increasing care.
All the same, some drivers who appear to have very little behind them are acquiring tippers; In some cases, at least, these have been provided with the assistance of private financiers whose charges have been heavy.
The Licensing Authorities show signs of keeping an increasing watch in this sphere and, with tipper licences becoming more difficult to obtain, representatives of contractors are now much more likely to find themselves asked to appear as witnesses in the traffic courts.