Don't Dilly Daily
Page 38
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I T should be a New Year resolution of every trader to do his utmost to speed up the acceptance and dispatch of goods. Expedition is particularly important when merchandise is collected or delivered in busy streets, for undue delay is an invitation to local authorities and the police to ban waiting, or at least to restrict it.
This is a matter in which the trader has as great a responsibility as the driver. Unfortunately, it is the operator who suffers most from restrictions on loading and unloading, for it is he who has to make costly arrangements to collect and deliver outside normal hours, simply because those on whom he has to depend fail to co-operate.
Chambers of Commerce should impress on their members their responsibilities in expediting the movement of goods and of road traffic, and emphasize the possible consequences of failing to honour them. The dislocation of traffic caused by undue waiting in busy streets is against everyone's interest. Economic conditions are such that the maximum amount of work must be extracted from every vehicle to spread overheads and reduce costs. The operator is as much concerned as the police and local authorities that goods should move quickly, but without the active assistance of consignors and consignees he can do little.
Because of the threat of restriction, the need for rapid handling in streets tends to attract more publicity, but it is no less great on private premises. Too many users are inclined to regard hauliers' vehicles as mobile warehouses. The operators' associations might well make joint representations to the organizations of traders to secure an improvement in turn-round.
With a new application by the haulage workers for an increase in wages to be considered next Thursday, the need for economy in operation becomes still greater. The reduction of terminal delays is one of the most profitable ways of cutting costs.