'How can we owner drivers and small firms ever get a fair chance?'
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RAPHY by MAURICE ROWE
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n 1982 I came back into transport, working as an owner-driver, after an absence of a few years, having begun as a driver in 1960. I began to see that, even more than in the seventies, the major companies were screwing the owner-driver. They know that as an owner-driver your resources are limited so they extend your payment time beyond the time that you can operate-45 to 60 days is common. They also know that owner-drivers have problems arranging fuel accounts, trailer rentals and tyre accounts for breakdowns so they offer you fuel services, trailer rental and tyre services. But they don't tell you that every transaction will incur an administration charge, or that tyres will be charged at full retail although they get discounts related to fleet size.
Very often these charges do not show up until you have worked for a few weeks, by which time you are committed and in debt. You find it difficult to leave because they are holding your money. When you are in deep '5 financial crisis they offer you early payment if you agree to allow them to deduct a percentage of your earnings. This can be anything from 1.5% to 6% depending on the company. Another ploy is to offer you a loan at, say, 6% interest to get you in their clutches. If you are strapped for cash it's an easy option to fall for. They are careful not to lend you more than they owe you. Then they might offer you a lorry that they are due to replace. They offer it cheap, the finance is without credit providing you agree to work for them exclusively while the truck is being paid for. Once you are trapped in this way some companies will pressure you into working excessive hours, which leaves you open to prosecution for tachograph offences. Their own drivers, while pushed to the limit, do not exceed the hours regulations, thus protecting their image but leaving the owner-driver wide open. How of-ten do you see major hauliers prosecuted for tacho offences compared with owner-drivers?
Owner-drivers are always called cowboys but the majority just want a fair rate for their work so that they can earn a reasonable wage and make a reasonable profit on their investment. Ask any ownerdriver or company driver if he wants to work 15 to 18 hours a day and you know the answer you will get. It is time the law made companies pay a fair rate for the job and pay quickly so that small companies do not get into debt while awaiting payment for work carried out. Most major companies get paid in a month despite their claims of 90 days. But even if they do have to wait 90 days, why should the owner-driver have to suffer? The FTA and RHA encourage owner-drivers and small companies to join but when you ask what they can do about these matters they admit they can do nothing. At regional levels who do they appoint as local officials? None other than directors of the companies which carry out these trading methods. How con we owner-drivers and small companies ever get a fair chance?
• if you want to sound off about a road transport issue write to features editor Patric Cunnane.