Haulage outlook bleak, says RHA
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Annual report spells out harsh facts of life
THE past year has been one of great anxiety for the road haulage industry, which has been affected more seriously than other industries by inflation, The outlook is bleak. So says the introduction to the Road Haulage Association's annual report published this week.
The introduction, jointly written by Mr K. A. Hatcher, chairman, and Mr G. K. Newman, director-general, goes on to say that the threat of further direct political interference in the immediate future seems to have receded with the publication of the Government's Industry Bill.
Looking at other proposed legislation, the report—for 1974-75—says that any suggestion that pickets should be allowed to stop vehicles "will be resisted to the last ditch." Events had shown that union officials were unable or un willing to control pickets.
" To allow them to stop vehicles could leave drivers open to abuse, intimidation and physical violence, and increase the opportunity to damage vehicles," says the introduction, The introduction is scathing about the cynical timing of the Scottish drivers' strike, organised by "rebels against civilised society" and says it demonstrated the inability of a union to control its members. The strike—with its repercussions throughout Britain—put costs up 25 per cent on average.
Pointing out that 38-tonne vehicles show a 13.8 per cent saving in operating cost compared with 32-tonners, the report says that the Government cannot " afford to ignore the possibility of economies on this scale just to satisfy the uninformed critics of road transport."
The introduction concludes by warning hauliers that the RHA can no longer recommend blanket rates increases of specified sums because road haulage rates now fall within the scope of the restrictive practices legislation.
Other points from the report include :
Commercial—work continues on the possibility of obtaining improved terms of insurance cover for third-party property damage.
Education and training—no effort is being spared to ensure a success for the new young drivers' training scheme; tanker firms have been exempted from the need to meet quantitative requirements because they do not employ novices.
Highways and traffic—efforts are being made to persuade the DoE to reassess plans for its new MI-Al link road and make it dual carriageway; on routeing, the committee recommends the adoption of a simple, voluntary scheme on a national basis.
Labour relations—inflationary wage settlements—resulting from the Scottish strike, were made against a background of union calls for an end to the Road Haulage Wages Council, Licensing—a substantial reduction is reported in the number of alleged illegal operations resulting from unfair competition.
Public relations—with the easy publicity gained by the antijuggernaut campaign it is essential that RHA members make sure that their case does not go against them by default. Technical—surprise has been expressed that the vehicle-offthe-road report forms have not been used more widely in view of continuing complaints about lack of spares.
Vehicle security—the campaign is continuing to have a photograph of the driver in each hgv driving licence.