Hauliers ! Rumblings Can Be Heard
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By E. B. H
owes Atmaging Diredor, A. Saunders and Son ( Harpenden), Ltd., and Chairman, A. • Saunders and Son Co-operative Group
A Plea For the Better Representation of the Haulage Side of the Road Transport Industry
I EADING articles and your
"
Opinions" columns have made it quite clear during recent weeks that all sections of the road-transport industry agree on two main points— (1) that the Government Road Haulage Scheme is a failure in its declared objective sense; (2) that professicinal. \ hauliers must unite,-not only in their own interests but also id' the national
interest. • The descriptive survey of war-time meat transport in "The Commercial Motor" for October 9, makes out a good case for an association of hauliers, by hauliers, as, whilst never failing in the 100 per cent. requirements of the Ministry of Food, the operators have evidently not suffered in their own interests. I fail to appreciate, however, why opposition of professional hauliers to the use of particular Governmentchartered vehicles for general carrying should call for the condemnatory introductory and closing remarks, unless the inference is to be drawn that maintenance of the satisfactory saving for the Ministry or profitable operation is now dependent on the diversion of other than meat traffic.
In the .letters of an industrial manager published in "The Corn
mercial Motor" of September 18 and October 2, another section of the road-transport industry takes us to task for presenting a disunited, and disagreeing, front to official schemes,* and, again, for our opposition to the diversion of traffic to other than general-licence vehicles. Mr. Anderson will have now understood, no doubt, that we have no proposals for operating journeyman and other small traffic and that our grievance is the use of Government-chartered vehicles for general traffic not permitted under normal conditions. We A and B licensees object, naturally, to diversion of our traffic, as the reduction of empty mileage is the allimportant factor in handling miscellaneous traffic, whilst the very fact that the Government scheme has not proved more efficient further emphasizes the urgent call for united action by A and B hauliers. This Poses my leading question. How can this be accomplished?
The associations for the industry as a whole have not only failed to agree on united action, but have pursued contradictory policies. This is inevitable, as, in fact, they represent conflicting interests. In addition, their total membership covers a very minor proportion of the carrying industry.
As an independent haulier, I have been a live member of one of the large associations with some hope that the interests of the industry might be thus furthered. I have been impelled, however, by the adverse conditions of the past few years to associate with other A and B licensees in a scheme for co-operative working. This has proved most successful, but I recognize that the future of the industry calls for a representative voice, that is, an association of professional hauliers. Surely, ,then, it is not impossible to have such an association directed in a practical way. I appeal, therefore, to fellow hauliers who feel as I do to advise me direct of their interest and suggestions; any such communications will be treated as strictly confidential.