Doubt on tipper charges
Page 29
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Consult CM Cost Tables, says LA
TFIE West Midland LA, Mr. J. Else, told an applicant in Birmingham last week: "I notice that COMMERCIAL MOTOR have again produced their annual figures of costings for lorries of all sorts and sizes—an admirable publication, price 7s. . .." He advised Mr. N. G. Lynes, of Nuneaton, that a look at a publication like the Cost Tables would be of material assistance to him in ascertaining the true cost of operating a tipper.
Mr. Else gave similar advice to Mr.
G. H. Joel, of Atherstone, whose application was heard concurrently with Mr. Lynes' since both applicants sought B licences for one vehicle each of 10 tons carrying capacity and a customer witness was present to support both applications.
Mr. A. L. Alsopp, sales .office manager, Man-Abell Quarries Ltd., said that his firm could handle 50/60 lorries a day but was only able to obtain about 40/50 vehicles at the moment. It had 11 on contract, which his directors felt was sufficient. Although larger hauliers were able to supply a percentage of the vehicles required, he felt that the "special B" vehicles—those with narrow conditions to work principally for their quarry—would help the situation.
He had told the two applicants that insulated bodies were required to maintain the temperature of the hot material which represented 25 per cent of the quarry's business. Although this side of the business was remaining constant, said Mr. Alsopp, the dry quarried materials had increased by 5/7 per cent this year.
Mr. A. G. Dyke, a director of both Smith Bros. (Tamworth) Ltd. and S. D. Supplies and Haulage Ltd., who were objecting to Mr. Joel's application, asked Mr. Alsopp if, in common with other quarries, he did not order the number of vehicles he would like to get away under perfect conditions and was not the number the firm was physically able to handle much lower than that.
Later, giving evidence, Mr. Dyke said that his companies had 27 vehicles licensed to do this work, although they were riot interested in the tarred road material work because it was not a financial proposition.
His companies did a substantial amount of work for Man-Abell working at a rate of 35s per ton per day, he said. In answer to Mr. Else, Mr. Dyke said they expected tippers of 10-ton carrying capacity on quarry work to earn at least £4,000 per annum.
Shortly, he would have 20 tippers standing idle for two weeks but he would not send them to the quarry in addition to the normal number supplied by them because, he said, it would only aggravate the waiting position. The average waiting time was 14hours.
Mr. Lynes was seeking to carry for ManAbell and Midland Quarry Co. Ltd. within 50 miles and he told the court that before working as a colliery shaftsman, he had been a lorry driver for 64 years. Mr. Else doubted whether he would be able to earn his present £20 to £25 weekly take-home pay when operating the tipper.
Mr. Joel said that he understood from friends that he could earn £l00/200 per month on quarry work. "Have you any idea what the standing charges would be before you actually start to drive it down the road?" asked Mr. Dyke.
Mr. Else said there was no current legislation that forbade him granting the licences but he strongly urged both applicants to look closely at the operating costs before buying their vehicles.
Mr. Lynes' application was granted as published and Mr. Joel will operate for ManAbell within Warks, Staffs, Leics,Northants, Oxford, Bucks and Worcs.