Haulage Rates to Rise?
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THE way in which increases in haulage rates have in recent years followed pay awards, and the obvious financial toll taken by the recent bad weather, have led to speculation about the possibility of another rates rise being recantmended soon. That such a recommendation is imminent seems Certain from the news that the Road Haulage Association rates committee is to meet in London next Thursday, February, 28, to consider changes in haulage costs since the last recommendation of the comm:ttec.
The news of the meeting was reported by the ch'airman of the Committee, Mr. R. B: Brittain of EsseX'Carriers Ltd., who is also chairman of,. the Association's eastern arca; he was speaking at the annual dinner of the Bury St. Edmunds sub-area on Friday.
Weather Effects
Mr. Brittain said: "There has been a pod deal of speculation recently about she total cost to the country of the appalFag and prolonged spell of Arctic weather that we have recently been enjoying— although I cannot help feeling:that enjoying is not the right word. Part of this cost has undoubtedly fallen upon the road hauliers of the country whose vehicles have suffered .delay as well as being under consider.able mechanical stress.
"Some discussion about the possible Emil cost to the road haulage industry is almost bound to take place at a meeting of the Association's national rates committee which is to be held on February 28.
-This is not, hoWever, the main purpose of the meeting. I need hardly tell .■,ou that since the last recommendation for a rates increase of 71 per cent took effect as tong ago as January, 1962, there have been a number of increases in our costs, some of them substantial, such as the 5 per centl rise that all our workers had last month.
" It is not .for me to attempt to forecast the committee's finings but it is obviously necessary that they should meet in order to look after the interests of members who arc having to face ever)-icreasing bills for the goods and services they receive."
More TIR Carnets nURING 1962 the International Road
Transport Union issued a total of 141,350 TIR carnets, the documents enabling international road freight to be sent in sealed vehicles for customs declaration at the final destination. This last year's total was 34 per cent higher than that for the previous year, itself 30 per cent above that for 1960. The use of the carnets in the main consuming countries rose from 26,750 to 36,600 in Holland, from 23,000 to 29.000 in Italy, from 15,200 to 21,200 in Federal Germany and from 13,000 to 20.000 in France.