Hauliers don't deserve blame
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THE EXPERTS will always disagree on something, and it seems that this state of affairs is particularly pertinent where heavy transport is concerned. The recent Armitage report has provided for both sides of the opposition enough point-andcounterpoint to keep the experts arguing indefinitely.
Far be it from someone responsible for getting staple commodities from point 'A' to point 'B' on time; held responsible for every item stocking every shelf, nook and cranny of high street multiples, to take upon himself the expounded solution to all heavy transport matters.
Failure to meet the public demands during all weathers, nigh and low seasons, would be neld to be a negation of my duties, and those of thousands )f others like me, No regard is )aid to the changing patterns prought about by lack of good planning, by variations in 3hopping habits, movement of population, etc.
Hauliers are invariably :astigated by effect, but seldom s the cause held to be the prime :ulprit. I wonder if anyone would are to attempt to assess in mere nonetary terms the cost of lelays occasioned during the ecent run-up to the Seasonal 'estivities to the haulage nclustry?
Why only the haulage nclustry? Why? Because that's that we in haulage must oncern ourselves with. Others nay have been held up, lost noney, missed appointments, Jmed in long queues. I ympathise with them and agret the delays and 'convenience, but I do not for ne moment hold my vehicles asponsible or those of other auliers. Of course, heavy ahicles are on the roads 3using delays, while skilful rivers manipulate their charges speedily as possible into insignificant openings to socalled trade entrances to vast stores allowed to spread into major shopping areas without adequate facilities for the receipt and discharge of the enormous volume of goods demanded by the shopping public.
The picture in any of the New Towns is entirely different. Adequate provision for off-street unloading, handsomely wide provision to access and egress to all new major multi-national stores, etc.
What a difference. Yet, we are blamed for the chaos at busy times in old fashioned cities and towns, where plans to remedy archaic conditions are either null or void, This Christmas, my share of the moans and groans from the public, even from friends and relatives reached new heights.
If heavy transport were the sole cause I would accept the brickbats, but it is not so. We are increasingly becoming the whipping boys because of the dilly-dallying and inefficiencies of others, and it's about time it stopped. If the public is to get the shopping service it demands, our heavy vehicles have to be given ready access to points of discharge. We are not the main cause, but too often we get blamed for the total effect. NIGEL BREEZE Southend-on-Sea