How many will survive ?
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WHEN Mr Ted Hains, of P and 0 Road Services Ltd, spoke to an ICHCA conference on " Inflation and the movement of goods" in London on Wednesday, he posed the dilemma : "Will stable, longterm investment be attracted into road transport during periods of downturn, until some form of control relates supply and demand ?"
He told the representative transport men present, including shipping and port operators: "When we have passed through this present crisis, and trade volumes return, many of you gentlemen who are users of transport services are going to look to some of the oldestablished haulage companies who have served you in the past—and they won't be there any more.
"Perhaps this is part of the price of a liberal licensing system, of freedom of choice, and perhaps this is a justifiable price, but it needs thinking about."
In a characteristically forthright address, Mr Hains said there was no question of small family road haulage businesses giving up the struggle lightly. Such businesses were usually an inseparable part of the family funds and survival— frequently by methods beyond the option of a more orthodox commercial entity—could be looked for in this resilient sector of the industry.