Union-ridden
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AN attempt by drivers to enforce a closed shop has caused a Midland haulier to apply to the Licensing Authority for extra vehicles. All his men are trade unionists, largely as a result of persuasion by loaders at a big motor factory where much of the haulier's traffic originates. Because of the recent large expansion in vehicle output, the haulier has had to sub-contract a substantial part of the business. Drivers of the hired vehicles are non-union men and the main contractor's drivers have now decided that they will not assist in loading any vehicle unless the driver is a member of a union. Unless the haulier can obtain extra vehicles, the efficiency of his service is seriously threatened.
Personal Touch
FIVE of the eight employees who were present at the inception of Victory Transport, Ltd., Rownhams, Southampton, 25 years ago, are still with the company. It was a pleasant touch of Mr. J. H. G. Barber, managing director, to present each of the men and his wife with a canteen of cutlery, as well as to give each employee a gold watch. As a contented family man he appreciates the contribution that a happy home life can make to efficiency in business. He also understands the importance of a feeling of security, and in addition to the normal staff pension scheme, the company has taken out for its 25-year employees an insurance policy to give them about £500 each on retirement.
Price of a "Bash"
ARE drivers settling down to MI? Mr. A. C. W. Neely, chairman of the Road Haulage Association's Birmingham Sub-area, thinks they are. He appreciated from the start, he A28
says, that his drivers had to have a " bash " on the motorway, and it was expensive in gearbox and rear-axle repairs on night trunk runs to London. But they have now grown to respect the motorway and to practise restraint
Nevertheless, they fear a breakdown on MI at night, which, they say, is an extremely unpleasant experience. From conversation with drivers in cafes on the old route I know that some operators have instructed their drivers to travel on A5 because of the high cost of a breakdown on Ml. After the first month Mr. Neely seriously considered banning Ml, but now he is pleased that he let the drivers work it out for themselves.
Any Questions?
mR. NEELY runs a fleet of 30 vehicles and he gets good service from the makers, except in one way. "No manufacturer," he complains, "has ever asked me what I want." With a B.Sc. to his credit, Mr. Neely combines the mentality of a qualified engineer with the approach of a practical operator when studying design features.
A get-together between makers and operators at fairly frequent intervals to discuss desirable features of new vehicles would, he believes, be far more fruitful than a series of emergency meetings to thrash out urgent problems, which is now the normal motive for joint consultation.