R.H.A. MEMBERS BASE RATES 'DISCUSSION ON OUR TABLES
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KEEN discussion at e monthly
th
meeting of the Bolton sub-area of the Road Haulage Association was aroused on the vital subject of rates and some surprising information was given by operators as to the prices charged locally. Mr. J. A. Hodkinson, the chairman, presided, and both he and Mr. J. Demaine, the area organizer, thanked The Commercial Motor for supplying the rates Tables on which the discussion was based. Mr. C. Walmsley produced a further schedule of rates, which had been approved by the Manchester area committee, and had been forwarded for comparison and recommendation. There was little difference between the two lists.
Several members referred to rates at which contracts had been carried out, and these Mr. Walmsley was able to prove were quite unremunerative and, in some cases, below maintenance level. He showed that The Commercial Motor Tables, if taken as a basis of costing, allowed for profit and establishment charges at the rate of about 50 per
cent., whilst even the Manchester schedule allowed 10 per cent. There was not a man in the industry to-day, he added, running a 2-ton lorry at 100. per mile, the rate given in The Commercial Motor Tables. Hauliers were actually obtaining about 6.65d. per mile, which was the figure given in the Tables, without the addition of profit and other charges.
It was almost impossible to ask for the printed hourly rate of 4s. 9d., for a haulier would be told that the hirer could have the work done for 3s. 6d. per. hour. Mr. Walmsley was quoting 5s. per hour, but he knew that there were men in the room who were quoting a much lower. figure. Until they worked ont a table of basic, running costs, the man outside the Association would continue to obtain much of -the work.
It was decided to accept the Manchester rates schedules as a basis of working and to forward these, through Manchester. for discussion by the National Council.