CONTROL THE COWBOYS
Page 33
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• Following your most interesting and thoughtprovoking editorial comment and news article on the subject of bank guarantees from hauliers, (CM 6-12 October) as a prerequisite to obtaining an 0-licence, I would like to add my own views on the subject.
One of the main points that both articles make is the intention to squeeze the so-called cowboys out of business; an excellent sentiment and one that would at least quantify the rather vague phrase "of good financial repute." Of course this pre-supposes that the flyby-night operator applies for the 0-licence in the first place!
If such steps are being considered would it not be an opportune moment to improve the conduct of what I consider to be some of the worst offenders in the haulage world? I refer to what I call the pseudohauliers, companies who do not operate vehicles but just use subcontractors. Before the pages of this magazine are smothered with protests from such people I would point out that there are many highlyprofessional, law-abiding and, above all, honest firms operating with subcontractors and indeed many haulage firms, all of whom have excellent relationships with their subcontractors. The fact remains, however, that there are no qualifications or criteria laid down to regulate the conduct of a transport business where there is no requirement to hold an 0 licence.
Let me illustrate this by an example. I recently received a call from an owner-driver interested in our services. During the call the conversation turned to the type of work he was involved in.
(As I receive enough publicity I will not name the firm concerned, suffice to say that they are well known, use subcontractors and operate throughout the UK and the Continent).
This owner-driver recently completed a trip which involved travelling from the UK to Antwerp, Brussels, returning to the UK point of departure. Total mileage was just over 750 miles (4200km).The rate — 2400.00 (ferry freight paid). Earnings per mile: 53 pence. Vehicle concerned: 38t artic.
The owner-driver discovered from his own enquiries that some 35% of the rate paid by the customer had been deducted by the firm concerned.
No-one objects to a firm making money, after all in the words of the song, "money makes the world go round", but the question arises, has that firm gone in and obtained the work, at an overcompetitive rate, secure in the knowledge that subcontractors are easily obtainable and that they can be presented with a very simple choice? Namely, does the subcontractor take it or leave it? If it leaves it, someone else even more stupid or desperate will accept, or if it takes it, how can the firm run its business to the stan
dards that it has attempted when being granted an 0licence?
Lawyers could have a field day arguing this one! Exactly who is the "Cowboy"?
If the question of guarantees for good conduct from hauliers is under consideration, surely the conduct of all those who offer haulage services should be under consideration?
The question of how to regulate the conduct of these individuals operations is not without precedent. The recent Financial Services Act was designed to control the conduct of investment and pensions business and the competence of those giving that advice. The haulage industry, likewise, might benefit from the imposition of similar legislation to monitor and control the conduct of those transport firms who make extensive, if not sole, use of subcontractors.
Owner-drivers and small hauliers are a vital part of the haulage industry. Applying controls to those who are in a position to take excessive advantage of these people, cannot harm the industry and 1 believe that such controls would ultimately be to the benefit of all hauliers.
R T McHugh, Managing Director Owner Operators UK, Cirencester, Gloucestershire.
HERO OF THE Al
On Saturday, 15 October, I and another driver Paul (Ghostrider), who drives the ANC (Newcastle upon Tyne), were northbound on the Al at Scotch Corner at approximately Sam. Visibility was about 15-20 yards, maximum.
At the M66 slip road I had to swerve to miss a car which had been left in the nearside lane, with no lights on. Paul and other drivers had to do the same. Fortunately, no one hit the vehicle, but only by inches was it missed. Paul, using his CB to local breaker Brian (Nightrider), called the police.
We stopped on the hard shoulder on the M66 slip road and Paul disappeared out of sight. A Lynx driver and I ran back to the abandoned vehicle to move it before a disaster happened. As we got to it, Paul had already pushed it onto the hard shoulder by himself, without thinking of the danger he was in. It was difficult for him, as the steering lock was on and vehicles were approaching and just missing him and the vehicle. Having moved it, he calmly got back in his cab and the police arrived. We then all went on our way.
It just goes to show that the British truck driver is not as bad as everybody thinks. Well done, Paul, for averting a possibly nasty situation.
Alan (Ploughman), Stretford, Manchester.