L.A. Questions Earnings of £8,000 per Vehicle
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AN application by Ward and Company (Leicester), Ltd.. who applied to the Scottish Licensing Authority, Mr. W. F. Quin, to operate a 3-ton collection and delivery vehicle under B licence from a base at Johnstone, was adjourned last week.
Mr. M. Ward, managing director, told Mr. Quin that his firm had 14 vehicles, mainly in the East Midland Area, with three trunk vehicles operating on the Leicester-Johnstone run. The vehicle, if authorized, would be used to haul goods which had been carried, or were to be carried, by the trunk vehicles within a 20-mile radius ot Johnstone.
When Mr. Ward said that 60 per cent. of the company's earnings came from the three Scottish trunk vehicles, Mr. Quin said that this would amount to some £8,000 per vehicle, which he did not think was physically possible, If, however, they represented 60 per cent, of the earnings of the fleet, it followed that the other vehicles were under-employed.
Questioned about substitute and maintenance vehicles. Mr. Ward explained that his firm had two such vehicles. Mr. Quin: "You are lucky to get that in Leicester. You would not get it here." Once a maintenance grant was made, it was difficult to check on its use, he added.
After hearing evidence by the company's Scottish branch manager that almost all the work was in small consignments, which few hauliers wanted, and that it was therefore impossible to secure suitable sub-contractors, the application was adjourned.