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IN YOUR OPINION

28th February 1964
Page 69
Page 69, 28th February 1964 — IN YOUR OPINION
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Keywords : Business / Finance

The Squeeze on the Owner-driver REFERRING to the article by Norman H. Tilsley in the February 14 issue of The Commercial Motor: Although there is no coal in this part of Yorkshire there are some quarry owners in the area who operate on similar lines to those described in the article. The regular transport contractors are never able to provide transport for these quarries because of the uneconomical rates offered.

Apart from the carriage in C-licensed vehicles—and these are gradually being reduced the transport of materials from the quarries is carried on Contract A vehicles.

The tragedy of this system of contract licences is that in many cases they involve owner-drivers who finish up at the end of the year having worked all hours and with less to show for it than any one of our drivers. These poor men have, it seems, often subsidized big contracts for the benefit of quarries.

If there is a recession their vehicles are the first to be stood off and they are then forced to embark on illegal transport to make ends meet.

It is hoped that the Geddes Committee will strongly recommend some remedy. Such a state of affairs can be vicious and cruel to those who get involved, as they are often encouraged to start in business on their own account and finish up having lost their personal savings.

Scarborough, Yorks. S. A. BELL,

'Disgusting Rates' Contribute Towards Overloading

THE article "Tipper Rates" written by Norman Tilsley deserves all the support that can be given to it. We were very pleased to see that, at last, someone was investigating the disgusting rates being paid for the haulage of building materials and excavation surplus.

It is very true that operators have to overload their vehicles and cannot keep them in the 100 per cent conditionl they would like to because of the condition of the roads1 that their vehicles have to travel on when they reach thel building sites.

If it was possible to meet Mr. Tilsley we could show him in "black and white " the ridiculous rates that are offered us and the difficulty that we have to make ends meet. We can assure him that the rates offered in this area, in our considered opinion, are far worse than anywhere else in the country.

If you knew the rates offered for some of the work which is advertised in London newspapers you would be astounded and we would welcome an investigation into this matter by Mr. Tilsley.

We wish him good luck and he can rely on our support if it is needed, as we think it is about time we got a fair crack of the whip.

Harrow, Middlesex. M. MANSELL, M. Mansell and Sons Ltd.

[We have received several such letters. Readers can expect to see more on this subject.—ED.]

Tags

Organisations: Geddes Committee
Locations: London

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