Continental Road Transport Developments
Page 76
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Tees-side Airport Clearance • For Road Freight
ANOTHER airport—Tees-side (Middleton) on B1273 between Darlington and Yarm—has indicated to the Road Haulage Association that it is willing to provide Custoths clearance for containerized road traffic from the Continent. The airport has a freight-handling section specially equipped for this class of traffic, and facilities include Customs offices and a bonded store with floor storage for loaded containers.
The geographical position of the airport, with its proximity to nearby port and main road and rail connections, may offer attractions in connection with groupage traffic.
French Railways Switch to Road Hauliers ANEW system of delivery of part-load goods traffic (individual consignments limited to about 3 tons)_ wilich will place business worth thousands of pounds into the hands of private road hauliers was put into effect by French Railways on June 1.
Hitherto, delivery of this traffic—which comprises 1.4 per cent of the tonnage of goods carried by French Railways—has been effected by railway vehicles from 4,500 stations. French Railways have found that handling costs of this particu c44 lar traffic represents 25 per cent of the overall costs and that their rail vehicles arc insufficiently loaded---on average, not more than 21 tons per wagon, whereas the average tonnage of a wagon of goods in France exceeds 17 tons.
From June I the number of stations where delivery will take place has been reduced to 186—which represents only two delivery depots to every French department (county). From these remaining stations the freight will be taken over by road vehicles operated by local hauliers or groupeurs.
Whilst hauliers obviously will profit from this move, French Railways will benefit, too They estimate that the number of wagons utilized for this traffic can be reduced by 11,000. Labour costs will be reduced and also the number of trans-shipment centres—from 72 to 15.
New Polish Regulations on Gross Weights D ECENT regulations in Poland have introduced the following maximum permissible weights for heavy goods vehicles:—
Vehicles with two axles: 16 tons and 10 tons per single axle.
Vehicles with more than two axles: 24 tons and 16 tons per double axle.
Articulated outfits: 32 tons, with 10 tons per single axle and 16 tons per double axle.
COST GUIDE TO INTERNATIONAL HAULAGE
MEWCOMERS to Continental trans I port find some difficulty in making a satisfactory assessment of their operating costs for the purpose of quoting for traffic. To provide general guidance on this problem, the international department of the Road Haulage Association has recentl■ produced a useful memorandum setting out the main points to be borne in mind. By and large it is considered that the normal costing principles applicable to operation in this country should he observed, hut the following additional items must be taken into account:—
Extra insurance for Continental -operation (hauliers' insurance brokers or insurance company will quote for this).
Cost of T1R carnet (if used). Roll-on/roll-off ferry charges.
Food and accommodation for the driver, if necessary (say, 5.-.E6 a day).
Rates and taxes payable in foreign currency • (these are a relatively small item of cost in most cases).
Port charges which are raised at some Continental ports and port rates on the goods.
Vehicle hire, This covers the loss of revenue-earning capacity of the trailer or forry whilst it is idle on the sea (8-12 hours each way) and while it is waiting at frontiers, the ports and loading and unloading at the Continental destination. This idle time should be taken into account in connection with calculating the spread-over of 'depreciation and 'maintenance charges.