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letters
Page 66
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We welcome letters for publication on transport topics. Address them to Commercial Motor. Dorset House, Stamford Street. London SE1.
Resigned in protest
I am concerned with the entry of so many newcomers into road haulage since operators' licensing was introduced last year. The furniture removal industry, I feel, is being particularly hard hit.
The newcomers are in the main people with apparently no experience of road haulage who are depressing rates and crowding out established operators; undoubtedly. in time, they themselves will be forced out by economic circumstances. But until they go bankrupt much damage is being done.
This is particularly true of the new light van operators who have entered the industry by the back door and although bound by the hours' regulations they are not required to keep hours' records. These people found it all too easy in the initial stages and the R HA did nothing at that time to combat their entry. In fact, that trade association felt that it had to accept something in the 1968 Act without a fight and this was it.
Unfortunately, operators as individuals no longer have the right to object to an application and the RHA which has that right appears to be unwilling to do so. Indeed, it appears to be unwilling to make use of the local knowledge of its members in formulating an objection and because of this and other reasons I have resigned from the RHA. where I once held the position of Plymouth sub-area vice-chairman and was a member of the Devon and Cornwall Committee.
GRANVILLE RUSSELL, Removal Contractor, Oreston Road, Plymouth, Devon.
Inadvertent overload
Concerning legal axle weight limits and the Minister's refusal to grant 10 per cent tolerance on axle loadings, published in CM last week. I had an experience at the local Department of Environment weighbridge this week which I feel should be brought to your notice I took a Ford Transit 35cwt 500 cu ft Luton-bodied furniture van to the weighbridge, and behind the bulkhead I had loaded 5cwt of goods. The result was that the vehicle was declared to be overweight on the front axle by 0.06 tons. The legal weight of the front axle on this vehicle is 1.01 tons; my vehicle was found to be 1.07 tons. This weight did not include the driver or any passenger.
By the nature of the work on which furniture vans and many others are engaged, the load must always be built from behind the cab to the back end. At the same time packages in a furniture load are of random sizes and weights and it is my contention that it would be impossible to load such a furniture van without exceeding axle weights. I firmly believe that 95 per cent of this type of vehicle if check-weighed would be found to be overloaded on its front axle. Many of these vehicles are on hire/drive work and I feel sure that this can only aggravate the situation.
I would be interested to learn from the Department if in the many prosecutions that they have made for overloading, there is any instance of an operator of such a vehicle being prosecuted.
Built-in weighing device
I refer to your news item in last week's issue where the Freight Transport Association said: "Investigations by the FTA, National Research Development Corporation and manufacturers over the past two years have highlighted the difficulties of producing a viable on-vehicle weighing device." My company recently patented such a device after 15 years of research and extensive trials.
The equipment comprises four jacks placed at each corner of the vehicle chassis each with its own separate meter or all linked to a meter installed in the cab. It is our intention to develop the equipment so that a weight ticket can be produced if necessary.
Trials have shown that the equipment is extremely accurate and production of the unit in quantity should commence in the course of the next two months.
W. HARRISON, 18 Bank Hey Lane South, Blackburn, Lancs.
Employment of graduates
It is encouraging news that the Road Transport Industry Training Board has already attracted 95 graduates into the road transport industry. The next important step is to ensure that they are given every incentive to stay.
To complete the picture your readers will like to know that the RHA Education and Training Committee is carrying out a survey of those members prepared to accept and train not merely graduates but newcomers at every educational level. Guidelines are also being prepared of the kind of training that is required and of the opportunities that a young man entering road haulage might reasonably expect to find available.
The next step will be a recruitment campaign particularly directed towards schools and universities.
F. Ft. LYON, Public Relations Officer, Road Haulage Association.
NGTM's zeal
The zeal of the National Guild of Transport Managers in submitting proposals to the Minister for Transport Industries must be commended. Press conferences and many column inches are excellent and the Transport Manager's Licence Committee should rightly strive for equal coverage.
On investigation the NGTM's proposals raise many administrative problems which zeal alone will not solve. For example—"it would be the duty of the body or the Board to notify his last known employer". We find it difficult
to kee•tkiv-to-date on present employer! To tell th4:•Licensing Authority that he "would have to give, in writing, the operator's licence holder, the TML holder and the professional body his reasons" is another administrative hurdle. The translation of legislation into practical effect requires considerable administrative skill. While we would sooner see the enthusiasm of the NGTM than refusals to solve the problems set by legislation we feel sure the TMLC proposals will, at least, be feasible administratively. I trust the internal administration of the Guild is ready to deal with the hurdles which expansion (mushroom growth) will create, as effectively as they have obtained space in your issue of January 15.
J. A. FLETCHER, Secretary, Institute of Road Transport Engineers.