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Drivers need to be businessmen

5th January 1980, Page 21
5th January 1980
Page 21
Page 21, 5th January 1980 — Drivers need to be businessmen
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Keywords : Business / Finance

I refer to the letter from David J. Raymer in Commercial Motor November 24, wherein he commented on your article reporting on John Silbermann's paper at the Fleet Management Conference.

I was present at the Conference and had an opportunity of seeing Mr Silbermann's written notes and his comments to the Conference. I am, therefore, surprised to note Mr Raymer' s views, for his interpretation of what was said by the RHA chairman is contrary to my own interpretation.

It appeared to me that the message which came across loud and clear was that owner drivers should be business men in their own right, and there was no way in which they could operate efficiently at levels of charges less than those applied by anyone else, irrespective of whether they were owner drivers or larger operators.

With regard to Mr Raymer's comments that certain companies had long been regarded in the minds of many small operators as being less than generous in their dealings with their sub-contractors, then surely the essentiality of being in business is to make a profit; this means you have to know your operating costs.

I would suggest that if as Mr Raymer indicates there have been occasions when individuals have not been working for a profit, then the onus must fall very clearly on those operators undertaking traffic without first of all having assured themselves that the business offered is at rates which are viable.

I fully agree with Mr Raymer when he says that for too long the industry has been divided, and I believe we should all do what we can to co-operate with each other at whatever level we operate, with a view to presenting a united front to our critics. G. SAMUEL, Managing Director, Flowers Transport Ltd, York.

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Locations: York

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