What Typical Hauliers Are Thinking
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Excerpts From an Overheard Conversation Between Two Operators Which Indicate the Direction in Which Their Thoughts are Turning and the Questions Which Association Officials Will be Asked
ONCE more the air is full of rumours as to what is taking place behind the scenes in matters concerning the road .haulage industry. It is evident that for some time past certain interests have met in conclave for the purpose of discussing these matters. Particularly is this apparent in the attempt to revive the " Waldorf Group" scheme with all the implications attached thereto. Whatever may be the nature of the scheme or schemes eventually submitted to the industry, one thing is certain; that is that the anticipation of any.such development has not stemmed the ever-increasing tide of dissent and dis satisfaction with the leadership of the industry. Most certainly there are no indications of the tide receding; it is, in fact, running stronger than ever, and shows every sign of breaking the banks of conventional procedure and action. This eventuality may occur even sooner than is generally expected; for coming it surely is, .Perhaps the following conversation which took place recently between two haulage contractors may serve to express the feeling obtaining:— An illuminating Conversation on
Problems of the industry
" Hello! Arthur, I haven't seen you for some time.
How's things going with yen? "Fairish," replied Arthur. "I've known better times, but I suppose on the whole I ought not to grumble, taking everything into account. How about you, Charlie?" "Well, I've kept going, but that's about all; just keeping my head above water, but nothing to shout about. If only I was sure of•doing no worse I shouldn't worry too much. But it's the uncertainty of the future that sometimes gets me down. You know what I mean; not knowing what's going to happen. You and me, Arthur, worked hard for a number of years to get going and build up our businesses, and when you consider there is no guarantee for our future, well, 'it makes you think, don't it?"
" Yes, you're right, it does. But how do you account for things turning out as they have done, Charlie? There must be some reason. Things like this don't just happen off their own bat."
"No, they don't. As a matter of fact I've not only tried to think things out for myself, but I've talked to a lot of hauliers like you and me, and they all think the same way."
"And which way's that? " asked Arthur.
" Well, as I see it," said Charlie, " it's like this. I've' been a member of an association for eight years, and I've paid in that time something like 460 odd in subscriptions. Well, to be fair, I'did find that from time to time I got help in one way and another."
"In what particular way do you mean? "asked Arthur. " The best help I got,' replied Charlie„ "-was when I had to go to the Licensing Court for a renewal of my licences. I knew I was in for a bad time, because the . railway companies were objecting. Of course, I realized I couldn't compete against the companies' big legal fellows, so I got my association to fight for me; and I must say I should have been in a bad way without kelp. Anyway, I got my licences, so that was that. Of course, it cost me a pound or two, but it was worth it."
" If you remember, Charlie, I did exactly the same as you with the same result. But as the war has suspended the sitting of the Licensing Courts that kind of help doesn't come into the picture now."
"No, that's one of my arguments," said Charlie. "For since the war it's been a case of ' put and take.", You
know that as well as me; for both of us are worse off now than we were before the war. I've paid my subscriptions regularly during the war—the same as before—but I can't say as how I've got much in return. The big noises in London seem more concerned with being on this or that committee which, so far as I can see, has been no use to meat all. And that's what so many fellows are saying. If anything good is going it's for the big shots, with small fellows left out to fend for themselves."
" That's just how I feel about it," said Arthur. "And as I see it those at the top are more concerned about the payment of my subscription than how much traffic I've lost and to what extent my turnover has been reduced; which, remember, represents my bread and butter as well as yours. No, I can't get away from the feeling that there's something sadly wrong somewhere."
" I'm glad to hear you say that, Arthur, for as a rule you don't say much; but it's evident you've been thinking things over, like me,"
"Yes, I have," answered Arthur, "and I must say I'm very disturbed about the whole business. But, tell me, Charlie, what are your impressions of the talks you've had with other hauliers? "
. "That's easy," replied Charlie, "for they all think the same as we do. But what's struck me most is the amount of grousing and grumbling. And, mind you, I've met these fellows casually in different places; sometimes over a gill or a cup of tea, as the case may be, and from all parts of the country. So you see the grousing is pretty general, and there must be some good reason for it."
"That's very interesting," said Arthur , "for it only bears out what I've heard. But haven't you found out why there is such a lot of grousing? "
" As a matter of fact I have, and that's been my reason for talking to the haulage contractors everywhere I could. Being dissatisfied myself, I wanted to know if I was the ex#_!eption or whether I was one of many. As you know, yourself, I am one of many, and the main grouse is with the so-called leaders who, it's felt, let the side down just at the time when help was most needed.. Spme of the fellows say you always see so-and-so's name on every committee; but what benefit it is to us no one knows."
Hauliers Pay Fees to Associations for Protection, not Extinction
Charlie continued. "One fellow passed me a bit of information which he said was straight from the horse's mouth.' He'd heard that there is something in the wind which has to do with a new company or something which might become a big combine actually owning and operating vehicles. I asked him for further details but drew a blank, al he didn't know, but later he did say that some of the association big shots were in it; also that one of the other fellows had asked whether that is what we pay our sub
scriptions for. 'I've always paid mine for protection, not extindtion,' he said. An& that remark, Arthur, has stuck in my mind ever since."
"Yes," said Arthur, ." but what's to be done about As I see it, it's no use you and me and all the other hauliers being dissatisfied and doing nothing about it."
" Well, I'll tell you what I've decided to do," said Charlie. "I'm thinking seriously about this grouping scheme —the one that's come from Harpenden—and if I find it fills the bill I'm for it. Anyhow, by the time we meet again I hope I'll have found out all about it and I'll let you know. I've decided I'm not going to put up with the present state of affairs any longer. So long. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year." .