New game for a famous name
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• Bobby Heaton has two claims to fame.
First, he took the Transport and General Workers Union to court in 1972 — he lost, but was in media spotlight for several days. Second, his uncle is the Jack Heaton who captained the England Rugby Union team.
Now the transport industry has a third reason for knowing Bobby Heaton, because last week he became the 24th chairman of the Road Haulage Association.
Already Heaton is indicating that he has strong views on the direction the association will take under his leadership. In his farewell speech last week, retiring chairman Roy Bowles called for restrictions in the industry to stop the infiltration of cowboy operators. Heaton says he is fully aware of the problems of illegal operators — but restrictions are not the answer.
"I am a believer in free enterprise and free market forces. I can't persuade myself that it should be any other way," he says. "I would like to see the industry protected, but by better enforcement. Life should be made difficult for those who break the law for a fast buck. I am happy to face fair competition, but not cheats and cowboys."
Heaton insists that better enforcement is vital for the in dustry and he is frustrated by the attitudes shown by the Department of Transport.
"There have been restraints put upon the DTp so they have cut back their enforcement efforts and they have become obsessed with certain things like overloading," he says. "But they ignore so many other offences. I thing the advent of truck rental has given loads of people the opportunity to drive a horse and cart through the rules."
Truck rental has been an integral part of Heaton Transport since the St Helens company bought out neighbouring firm Woodwards two years ago giving it interests in fifth wheels, body building and truck rental. Since joining the rental trade, the new RHA chairman says he has become more aware of how illegal operators try to abuse it. For instance, there are no laws to force rental firms to ask for either HGV licences or Operator Licences.
The problems are getting worse, says Heaton and he believes the blame lies with the transport industry's customers as well as industry itself.
"People are now quite ready to take on any Tom, Dick or Harry firm if he is a penny cheaper," he says. "I can understand that if a big company is struggling it has to cut back on its suppliers. I would not mind if the fellow who takes the job away is seen to be a viable firm operating quite legally. But now this is seldom the case."
Heaton wants the DTp to recruit more enforcement staff. He is also keen to see tachographs made as sealed units, allowing only employers access to the records.
He reckons that this sort of action would start to improve the image of the industry "which has become a heavy responsibility for the RHA" and sees it is a problem which the RHA must tackle as soon as possible in the climate of increasing environmental concerns.
"The image of transport has slipped enormously since my father's day when drivers were seen as knights of the road," he says. "But now, Good Lord, I don't think they would dream of stopping to help anyone."
"We intimidate the public. Lorries are so big and so fast and driving techniques are intimidating. We must look at tackling this problem although I know some companies would like to see the RHA lobbying for higher speed limits."
Over the next two years Heaton expects more emphasis to be placed on quality standard BS5750: the association has already appointed a specialist BS5750 consultant to advise its members.
"I don't think the impact of BS5750 is immediate, it has to be gradual," he says. "But I do think transport companies will eventually see the door slammed in their faces if they don't have BS5750."
Some members are pushing the RHA hierarchy into going for the quality standard in its own right, and Heaton believes this could be a possibility.
Heaton says he is pleased to take on the mantle of RHA chairman as it is a position which his father would have claimed if he had been able to spend less time at work. Bobby Heaton knows that he will be:expected to spend more time in London, away from his St Helens business. But he says there is one person who will be pleased: "my son Robert, who is involved with Heaton Transport. He is not yet ready to push me out, but he will enjoy more freedom." 0 by Tanya Cordrey