R.H.A. Members hip Highest Ever
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NAEMBERSHIP of the Road Haulage lvi Association, at 17,234, was the highest since the Association was formed and showed a net increase of 275. This was stated in the annual report for 1963-64 of the R.H.A., issued this week. Subscription income once again increased, though proportionately less than in the previous year. The publicity fund, started in 1962, stood at .E.15,526 as at December 31 last.
Members of the rates and carriers' liability committee believed it would become increasingly difficult to hold rates at the existing level unless vehicles could be fully employed for at least five days a week. Transport users would have to provide loading and unloading facilities for a full five-day week and to speed up the turn-round of vehicles, they said.
Reporting for the first time the new vehicles and highways committee gave details of the work it had done since it held its first meeting on July 30 last year. The vehicles security committee reported continuing and successful activity in its particular field.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food was continuing its survey of agricultural lime rates, reported the agricultural functional group and this was not expected to be completed before the end of next year. Meanwhile haulage rates remained unchanged.
With the railways' increasing rejection of parcels collection and delivery from outlying districts, members of the express carriers functional group were co-operating more closely among theniselves to arrange for the handling of traffic without duplication of services, reported the group. It was hoped shortly to issue the revised " Directory of Express Carriers ".
The rise in the amount of traffic going to the Continent in British goods vehicles continued during the past 12 months, reported the international functional group. The number of inquiries dealt with had increased rapidly.
Good progress on a number of points was reported by the livestock functional group. Further meetings between the Ministry of Agriculture and the R.H.A. were expected to discuss the Ministry's considered revisions of the regulations concerning the transit of livestock by road which were framed in 1931. It was expected that ultimately British Railways would discontinue the carriage of livestock but no detailed information was yet available, The Ministry of Transport had been approached on the increased use of trailers for livestock carriage and the payment of tax on the trailers.
One of the main events for the year for the long distance group was its merging with the clearing house group which undoubtedly would be of great benefit, reported the long distance group, which was expecting to make available soon a new issue of its "Long Distance Directory ".
A considerable amount of work was done by the meat and allied trades transport functional group, perhaps the highspot of which was the invitation to Mr. R. V. N. Henning to represent the interests of refrigerated vehicle operators in Britain at Continental meetings of the International Institute of Refrigeration.
The rate increases for 3,000 gallon tankers were still awaited from the Creamery Proprietors Association, reported the milk group.