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Thumbs up for Burns inquiry
Page 22
Page 23
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Operators are in favour of the freight taxes inquiry but dubious about chances of winning government help for the industry.
OPERATORS HAVE welcomed the launch of the Burns Freight Taxes Inquiry, according to this month's Commercial Motor! Michelin Business Monitor.
The survey reveals that 68% of operators believe we must raise government awareness of the industty's plight. And 63% say they will fill in the seven-page questionnaire on their business and provide evidence to the inquiry on the damaging effects that high fuel taxes and cut-price foreign competition are having on the industry.
However, only about 7% plan to attend one of the 50 Burns Inquiry meetings that will be held throughout the UK.
Despite this operators remain pessimistic that the inquiry will help win concessions from a government that has proved notoriously indifferent to the plight of the road transport industry — no less than 87.5% of operators think it will have no impact on the government's position on fuel duty
Extra pressure
But Rob Jones, transport manager at Potter Group's Droitwich depot, says it must be worth a try."I will be answering the questionnaire as I believe any extra pressure we can put on the government is a good idea. However, I don't think it will take any notice of it as it is aware of the situation and the problems that we face, but it is not high on the political agenda to solve them."
Robert Dunn, director at Shildon-based Dunns (Shildon) is more positive. "I hope that having someone as high-profile as Robert Burns carrying out the inquiry with the backing of the Road Haulage and Freight Transport Associations will have a positive impact on the government. I live in hope that it will take note of what is happening to the industry."
Fuel strikes
Operators also believe that while the price of fuel remains at an alltime high there is an increasing chance of fuel strikes. However, only 12.5% would consider taking part in such action, reflecting the low turnout at recent protests.
This month's survey also reveals that despite a number of initiatives to help tackle truck crime the number of operators who were hit by crime remained flat at 16°,43. All the offences this quarter were vehicle or load thefts; up from 59% in the second quarter.
On a more positive note, no operators or drivers reported being the victim of violent crime last quarter; down from 8% in the last quarter and 12% the quarter before. But respondents' satisfaction with police response has fallen dramatically. Only 26% of operators said they were satisfied with the police response — down from 75% in the previous quarter.