Joint Effort to
Page 58
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
SAVE THE HAULAGE INDUSTRY
THE formation of the Road Haulage Association will be welcomed by every haulier in the country. The National Council of the R.H.A. will find that the greatest difficulty to overcome will be the apathetic attitude of the very persons whose interests it is intended to guard. Anyone who has served on a committee of an existing organization of hauliers—or, for that matter, of any other trade— knows this apathy only too well, and the future success—in fact, the very life of the Road Haulage Association—will depend entirely on the National Council's efforts to overcome it. '
At a rough estimate there are 22,000 haulage contractors in Great Britain, and the great majority of these operates six or fewer vehicles. A perusal of the Roadway Goods Transport Guide will show that this is the case. It is, therefore, clear that the membership of the smaller concerns must be encouraged; they must not be given the impression that the association is formed only to look after the interests of the large operator.
2,000 Members of Associations.
The force of the foregoing remarks will be realized by the National Council of the Road Haulage Association when it considers that the total membership of the existing hauliers' associations—excluding the C.M.U.A.—is probably fewer than 2,000.
A question which will always be asked by those who are at present not members of an association is, "What have I to gain by joining the R.H.A.?" It is obviously impossible to accept from a haulier a subscription of—we will say—three guineas and to return to him services costing much more than the subscription, although many will expect this. The more important advantages of membership cannot be offered until such time as most of the hauliers are members of the association now being formed.
It is therefore apparent that a great deal of propaganda and spadework are necessary for the Road c36 Haulage Association to obtain a membership of, say, 16,000, without which the objects of the association can hardly be realized. A successful hauliers' association must be recognized by the Minister of Transport to represent hauliers operating for reward, and must be consulted by him and officials of the Ministry. This position will not be attained unless the membership of the association becomes such as to impress the Minister as adequately representing the interests of haulage contractors throughout the country.
Committees in 13 Areas.
It is proposed by the Road Haulage Association to form regional committees in the 13 Traffic Areas set up by the Road Traffic Act, but to obtain the maximum of interest In the association these will not suffice. An operator in South London, for example, is in many cases unaware of the existence of another operator in North London, and, furthermore, is not interested in his welfare. It will be necessary to establish many regional committees in order that hauliers may be brought into contact with their competitors for the discussion of common problems.
The formation of such committees will have two advantages. First, there will be many members who, by virtue of their serving on committees, will become more interested in the progress of the association than the ordinary member ; they will endeavour to increase the membership in their area or amongst the competitors engaged in their particular types of haulage. For this purpose an area in which 50 or more vehicles are operated will warrant the setting up of a regional com
mittee. Secondly, the majority of hauliers now feel that the time has come to tackle the question of uneconomic rates, and this calls for many local committees. All engaged in the industry realize the magnitude of the task, but on account of this it should not be side-tracked. In view of the wide differences in overhead costs and types of vehicle the stabilization of rates is a pro
blem, but the obstacles can be stir _ mounted.
It is an amazing fact that many concerns pay no heed to costings. These are regarded too often as
difficult to institute and to operate, whereas costing can be rendered quite simple and need not require any addition to existing staffs. If every haulier could be prevailed upon to adopt a simple system, such as that given in The Commercial Motor Tables of Operating Costs, he would soon realize that existing rates can only lead to bankruptcy. Propaganda work on these lines by the Road Haulage Association will do more than anything else towards the rationalization of haulage contractors' rates.
It must always be borne in mind that in many cases the haulage rate represents but a small charge on the delivered cost of the article, and manufacturers and the general public can well afford to meet an economic rate. For example, an increase of 3s. per 1,000 for brick haulage would not warrant an increase in the price of buildings. The fact that the bringing together of hauliers always leads to a discussion of haulage rates signifies the importance of this matter.
Enthusiasm Must be Maintained.
Members of trade organizations complain that they derive little advantage from their membership, which they drop after a year or so. In order to obtain regular renewals of subscriptions the interest and enthusiasm of members must be kept up; therefore, frequent meetings must be held of regional sub-committees and the members of all areas.
The association should issue to its members a monthly review of the National Council's and the regional
committees' activities. If this be not done there may be quite unjustified complaints that no good work is being achieved.
The association should also act as a clearing house in order to safeguard the conditions and rates under which members operate. In many cases existing clearing houses base little knowledge of operating costs, and on these alone can rates he charged. To obtain membership the method of circularizing haulage contractors for the support of associations has proved of little or no avail, and it is therefore essential that the message of the R.H.A. be personally carried throughout the country.