A new area: 'own account haulage'
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THE FIRST SPEAKER of the afternoon was Frank Woodward who gave delegates yet more to chew over after their lunch.
Recently retired managing director of SPE (Vehicle Services) and a respected author and journalist, Mr Woodward delivered a speech entitled the 'Own-account operator." Apart from reminding delegates about some interesting historical facts he also talked about the state of the industry today.
"Eighty-five per cent of hauliers in the UK have fleets of five vehicles or less and 54 per cent have only one vehicle. These are the 'real' hauliers who provide the movement of goods on an 'as required basis' and no own-account operator would want to compete in this field.
"At the other end of the haulage industry, 0.2 per cent of the hauliers have fleets in excess of 100 vehicles, but within this sector are 10 per cent of all the vehicles employed in the haulage industry. It is in this area of transport activity that major changes in operation are taking place, and having an effect on the own-account sector."
The larger haulage companies are now becoming more closely associated with moving specific industrial products than with general haulage. Many are now doing the identical work previously carried out by a transport operation owned and administered by the company making the product, he said.
"Specific products are now being carried by the haulage sector in vehicles designed around the requirements of the products, the manufacturer and the consumer. These vehicles, the drivers and the management of the transport operation, are replacing the own-account direct involvement, and I have named this new and expanding area of activity 'own account haulage`."
For those companies considering handing over all the transport and distribution of their product to the haulage sector, it is essential that the principles of own-account operation be kept, said Frank Woodward.
"The control of the distribution line must remain within the product industry, and decisions taken must be aligned to providing that all important customer satisfaction. The skills and expertise of the own-account transport manager should be retained within the business and used to control the specialist haulier his services to meet the need the company and its custi ers."
Roy Hutchings, Licens Authority for the North West traffic area, congratulated Fr Woodward on his speech. then reminded him that the tricted licence was intendec cater for the small-time plurr or builder who needed to vehicle over 3.5 tons.
Mr Woodward's response that that may have been thE tention — but he emphasise' Mr Hutchings that any IE. company can opt for a restric licence. There is no differe between a restricted 0 lice and the old C licence, argued Woodward, wso also said there is no such thing as a tricted licence in Europe.
"The simpler the legislat the simpler it is to enforce,' claimed.
Freight Transport Associa. director-general designate. G Turvey commented on Woodward's speech as Ralph Cropper. He at whether Frank' Woodward suggesting that professic
etence should be attached own-account sector. EvenMr Woodward hinted that iuld like everyone with an nce to hold a CPC. Sir Peter Masefield said that part of Frank Woodward's job was to keep the delegates alert after lunch which he did "magnificently".