Modernization the theme at

27th May 1966, Page 81

27th May 1966

Page 81

Page 81, 27th May 1966 — Modernization the theme at

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Keywords : Local Government In England, Geography Of England, Hampshire, Port Of London, Royal Docks, Truck Driver, Devlin Committee, Labour Party, Portsmouth

oTA Conference BY IAIN SHERRIFF, MITA

,EGATES of the Institute of Traffic clininistration who attended the conference at Portsmouth last weekre afforded the opportunity to discuss s as widely diversified as road safety, and computers. The theme running the conference papers was tization in transport.

Lng the discussion on the road safety presented by Mr. P. H. W. Haile, f the road safety division of RoSPA, generally agreed that the standard of instruction in the country would to improve if any real progress be made towards reducing the waiting ir driving tests. Mr. Haile agreed with es that driving instructors should be ed as such and before registration aould satisfy high standards of effici NTing to black spots, Mr. Haile said while sight lines and road conditions elp to create the black spots we must the fact that the human element is :atest single factor". He made referto the various organizations which playing their part in attempting to [riving standards. The Lorry Driver of ear competition and the Industrial Safety Officers' Association were high amongst those making a useful mtion in this field.

modernization

)aper entitled "The future of the port ry in the United Kingdom" was preby Mr. Stanley Turner_ chief docks er of the Port of London Authority. aper dealt with the Rochdale and Devports, the former being concerned he physical development and moderni of the ports, the latter concerning with the manual side of port operation.

Port of London Authority had Iped the London, Tilbury and the

Group Docks and introduced auto n and mechanization. At London there was a fully automated berth +tn. gal. of wine were stored in bulk. method of storage had meant that 'al operation has been dispensed with. rfr. Turner.

the Royal Group of Docks an oilier, fully mechanized, meat-discharging lation was under construction and I be in operation later this year. The arge and delivery will be some three faster than with current conventional Ling methods. Developments are also , ahead at other docks to facilitate the ling of softwood and containerized r. Turner, sounded a warning note on Ise of containers. "One hears a lot tdays as to the future of containeriza and there is no doubt that this method trriage, whereby the maximum size of

unit load is obtained, will develop extensively and quickly in the foreseeable future," he said, "but it must not be thought than containerization offers the remedy for all our troubles and problems. In fact, this method of handling can produce its Own problems.

Restrictive Practices

Dealing with the Devlin report, Mr. Turner pointed out that this provided for full decasualization by the permanent employment of the total labour force by a small number of large employers, the licensing of employers, the abandonment by labour of certain protective and restrictive practices and the provision of improved amenity facilities. In discussion, Mr. R. Cull (Portsmouth centre), stated he considered that many delays at the docks were the result of restrictive practices and asked: "What is being done to reduce this factor?"

Mr Turner felt that delays were not always due to the port authority. "Many vehicles are loaded and unloaded in periods of less than one hour, but a greater factor is that the shippers do not use the full receiving period of 10 days. In many cases the last two days are treated as the receiving period by shippers and delays inevitably must occur."

Mr. J. A. Broster (Manchester centre) returned to the question of restrictive practices and stated that not only had petty restrictions caused delays but also strikes. He considered that the unions were wanting to adopt only those points in the Devlin report which were entirely favourable to them. Mr. Turner agreed that petty restrictions did exist. "Decasualization of labour will help to reduce this factor because," he said, "there will be better communication between management and men." Since the Port of London Authority began employing men's representatives, most disputes were settled on the quay.

Referring to Mr. Broster's point regarding the unions and the Devlin report. Mr. Turner said that, "giving all the benefits of the Devlin report without getting anything back from the unions would be disastrous".

Mr. P. A. Vines (South Wales centre), suggested that liner-train traffic to and from the ports would be an ideal method of clearing port congestion. Mr. Turner agreed that the liner-train concept could be of tremendous advantage. "The user not only wants lower costs but alsic reliability." He illustrated how a cargo of soft fruits landed at London had been loaded into a container and was transhipped to Glasgow. "This consignment was sold on the Glasgow markets 24 hours after arrival in London. Reliability in this kind of service will win back for British Railways many of the customers they lost to road haulage."

Vehicle savings

Mr. S. P. Jones, of English ElectricLeo-Marconi Computers Ltd., introduced his paper on "Computers in Transport" by stating that: "A range of problems on which programmes have been sucessfully used includes daily planning for the delivery of goods ordered until 12 noon the previous day. scheduling of vehicle fleets for up to four weeks and dealing with fleets ranging in size from as few as five to as many as 700 vehicles."

Plans produced in these applications had been accepted by the management concerned as being satisfactory and practical; when compared with manual plans they have been at least as economical and had commonly saved up to 10 per cent of the vehicle requirement. In many cases this alone would outweigh the computer costs.

On the question of savings related to cost a number of delegates expressed their surprise at the fact that the computer was unlikely to reduce the number of administrative personnel required to operate a fleet. Mr. Jones agreed that in some cases staff would have to be increased. "But". he pointed out, "there is always a reduction in the number of vehicles required and consequently there are very considerable savings."

The theme of the papers by Mr. Turner and Mr. Jones was in keeping with the general trend today—that of seeking increased productivity in road transport. The final word went to Mr. Jones, who summed up his paper by saying: "The computer is not a panacea for all problems, nor a substitute for experienced management. But as a long-term planning tool it can give intelligent and realistic answers to intelligent and precise questio,u,s; in daily operation it can deal efficiently with the bulk of the routine work, leaving management free to exercise discretion and experience on those problems which require it. It is a tool which has proved its value already in a variety of applications and which deserves serious consideration by all those concerned to improve the efficiency of their transport operation."

A38 Improvement : The Minister of Transport has accepted a tender for the improvement of 3+ miles of the Exeter-Leeds trunk road (A38) from the northern end of the Burton by-pass. now under construction, to Doles Lane, Findem. The scheme, which will cost in all just over /14-m., is part of a comprehensive improvement of the route between Birmingham. Derby and Sheffield. Work will start shortly and will he finished in about two years' time.

Long-service Awards: Six men, all employees of Roadferry, British Road Ferry Services Ltd., who between them have 188 years' service in the road transport industry, were recently presented with long. service awards.

Modernization the theme at

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