High Lights on 1944 and 1945 T HIS being the first
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issue of this journal for 1945, it may be of interest to consider some of the major events which occurred during the .past year and which have had their reflex action upon road transport. History will probably record 1944 as one of the most momentous periods the world has seen. It has witnessed a highly successful invasion of the Continent by forces of the United Nations, and the freeing, wholly or partly, of a number of nations, large and small ; also the capitulation to Russia of Finland and Rumania; in fact, there has been a complete reversal of our fortunes, which has brought forth prospects of a reasonably early victory against Germany and her European allies. ,r• In all these and other events, road transport has played a highly important part, and often success depended almost solely upon the services, it could • render.
During this period, also, the M.O.W.T. Road Haulage Organization, with its controlled undertakings and hired-Vehicle operators, really got into its stride, and, despite many criticisms, has been able to cope with a number of urgent tasks requiring the immediate allocation of large fleets of vehicles.
We will not go into the questioe, at this stage, as to whether the R.H.O. was really necessary or not. At least, it gives a measure of security to many large concerns 'and -to a number of smaller ones, although even this security is sometimes referred to as affording those who at present benefit by it a sense of complacency from Nyllich, later, they may experience a rude awakening.
The Long Fight for Unity During the whole of 1943 and 1944 innumerable meetings and discussions took place concerning unity of representation in the commercial side of road transport. The arguments have just escaped passsing into a third year, for the agreement between six out of the seven constituent members of the Joint Conference was signed only last month, but the new organization commenced to function on January 1.
Another particularly interesting step has been in the direction of grouping of many of the smaller hauliers in various parts of the country. This policy appears to be spreading rapidly and. growing at a rate which is surprising the industry and those authorities which control its ultimate destiny. It may prove itself to be one of the most useful and constructive moves towards linking up the smaller haulage concerns. and individual operators in this sphere. . Certainly the strength of the representation has strongly impressed some of the big companies and the associations.
Major Bus Improvements Vetoed During recent months and after long preparation the case of the public-service-vehicle interests for certain important alterations in the Construction and Use Regulations, as these apply to their vehicles, was,put forward to the Minister of War Transport. Whilst a few concessions were made concerning overall height and weight, the major requests for the overall limit of width to be. extended to 8 ft., and for the overall length of 30 ft. permitted to six-wheelers, to be allowed for four-wheelers, were refused. The S.14I.M.T. and the operators' associations concerned, are, however, by no means satisfied with the result, and we may expect further important steps to be taken.
M the beginning' of 1944, at a luncheon attended by some 200 fleet engineers and representatives of certain commercial-vehicle manufacturers, there were laid the foundations of a new Institute of Road Transport Engineers, the move far which was inafigurated by the Editor of this journal. Immediately, and ever since, there has • been a flood of applications for niembership, not only from all over Britain, but from many places „abroad. The project is being strongly supported by many sections of the industry, and we hope that the Institute will be in active operation early this year.
Two other schemes organized by this journal are also making most favourable progress. One is the " C.M." League of Servicemen, which constitutes an index giving the qualifications,. etc., of officers and men who wish to rejoin the industry after being demobilized.
The other is the posting, by certain of our readers, of copies of this journal to men in the All Forces, these readers having undertaken this much-appreciated war service. This arrangement is also steadily growing; for, as more offers are received from our readers, so do more requests arrive from men in the Forces.
So far as the present year is concerned, it is always dangerous to prophesy, as has been proved on many occasions within the past few months. We all hope for a speedy end to this long war, but the enemy still shows considerable strength and resourcefulness. Whilst we have the greater strength and considerably more powerful armaments, Germany, at least, has a high measure of internal economy and much shortened lines of communication, so that her great losses in transport vehicles, both rail and road, have not affected the situation so materially as they would have done otherwise. It is, therefore, still necessary for everyone to con centrate on the war effort while making what plans are possible for the future, provided that these do not interfere with the primary object.
Thus, for many months and, possibly, years it will be virtually out of the question to replace the majority of our already old and well-worn vehicles. For this reason, attention to efficient maintenance of both vehicles and their tyres is particularly essential. We hope, however, that some relaxation will be made as regards the supply of spare parts, as these are becoming more and more necessary.
The new arrangements for the call-up, by which some 250,000 more men will be drafted into the Forces, will no doubt affect our industry to some extent. We trust, however, that the authorities concerned will be brought to realize how vital it is to maintain road transport at its fullest possible strength and available for all emergencies.