Trial Service to the Continent Held Up
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AN experiment by A One Transport (Leeds), Ltd., 136 Jack Lane, Leeds. 10, involving a direct road service by A-licence vehicles between England and the Continent is held up at a critical stage by the recent requisitioning of the Continental Line's two converted tanklanding craft employed on the Tilbury to Antwerp ferry service.
After much preparation, the service started in May. A number of deliveries has been made in Belgium and Holland with complete success, including the transport of a £20,000 bottle-washing machine on three vehicles, one having a load 12 ft. 6 in. wide, from Leeds to a Belgian brewery at Merchten, near Brussels. A delivery to Basle in Switzerland had to be cancelled because of the requisitioning.
An average round trip from Leeds to Belgium and Holland takes six days. The company told The Commercial Afolor this week that the service not only saved exporters' time, but cut out the need for casing and transhipping
goods—important factors for consideration by those who claim that they calm& compete with German manufacturers delivering by road transport.
Ten practically new Atkinson four-. sixand eight-wheelers, fitted with winking-light indicators and special fog lamps, have been earmarked for the new service. It has not been found practicable to hire vehicles because of numerous restrictions. .
In order that rates should compare favourably with existing services, it was found that return loads were essential and to that end, and to facilitate maintenance abroad, agencies have been established in Antwerp, Paris, Rotterdam, Basle and Dusseldorf. Some difficulty was encountered in Belgium and France, and each trip to these countries has to be licensed by the respective Governments.
The company plan to provide, when conditions permit, a daily service. Whilst vehicles could serve an area of approximately 100 miles in radius from Antwerp during the 24 hours between arrival and departure, any further distance would mean keeping the vehicles on the Continent for a week, Consequently, apart from running time, rates to Essen, in Germany, 125 miles from Antwerp, and Basle, in Switzerland, 500 miles by road, will be approximately the same.
The concern are confident that these points can be ironed out and predict that the flow of British vehicles to the Continent during the next two years will show comparable growth with that of the Trish ferry services (see The Commercial Motor, last week).
At present, only full loads from 7 tons upwards can be considered, but eventually it is hoped to develop a collection and delivery service. 'ancillary to the trunk vehicles, for small lots. Many inquiries have been received and the Atomic Energy Authority are included among customers who have signified their intention of using the service.