Rates to Hirers Dropped by 2570

6th May 1960, Page 71

6th May 1960

Page 71

Page 71, 6th May 1960 — Rates to Hirers Dropped by 2570

Noticed an error?
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.

WHEN industrial concerns entrusted VI' their transport to " shipping and forwarding agents, sub-contracting hauliers received rates as much as 25 per cent, lower than the original, Maj. F. S. Eastwood, Yorkshire Licensing Authority, was told at Bridlington on Tuesday.

Seven Hell hauliers were objecting to an application by Bromley's Haulage, Ltd., Hull, for two articulated outfits.

Mr. R. E Paterson, for the applicants, said the case was -based on the " enormous " traffic requirements of John Good and Sons, Ltd.. Hull, shippers. Mr. F. W. Bromley was for five years manager of Messrs. Baldrey's _Haulage, who handled Good's traffic to Lancashire and the Midlands.

When the business was sold in 1958, the majority of the vehicles left the district and none of them now worked for Good. Mr. Bromley's original Intention was to take over the Baldrey fleet, but he could not raise the necessary capital.

Instead he acquired the four vehicles of C. H. Wood's Transport, Ltd., and continued to carry the Lancashire traffic. Bromley's figures for 1959 showed 7,472 tons carried on their own vehicles and 14,570 tons by hired haulage.

Good became financially interested in Humber Stores (Contractors), Ltd., who acted as agents. This company's figures for October, 1959, were £3,093, including £80 sub-contracted. After the take-over, they rose to £6,256 with £3,198 subcontracted.

Mr. Paterson said that there was no decision of the Transport Tribunal which stated that clearing-house work should

not be taken into consideration. It had repeatedly been shown that there were. not plenty of vehicles available for hire.

Mr. Bromley said that there was no foundation in the suggestion that rates to sub-contractors were at third hand. Since the traffic came through Humber Stores, a deduction of 5 per cent, was made, but no change had been made in the rates to the applicants' own subcontractors, who included most of the objectors. Bromley's deductions varied between 2i-10 per cent.

Manchester traffic had been lost to Messrs. Hunter's of Hull, who were not carrying for Humber Stores. Trade was so good in Hull that foreign-based vehicles would not accept loads unless they were one " pick-up " and one "drop."

Replying to Mr. P. Kenny, for the objectors, he said that in order to meet requirements he had to conduct his own business as a clearing house after Baldrey's went out of existence.

Mr. J. Sanderson, traffic manager of J. Williamson and Sons, Ltd., Lancaster, said they paid Good £3 16s. to £3 18s. a ton for delivery and dock charges on wood flour from Hull to Lancaster. He was not aware that the traffic passed through Humber Stores and reached Bromley's at £2 Is. and was passed on to sub-contractors at £1 16s. 104d.

Mr. A. Whatmouth, traffic manager of Good, said their rates included clearance, wharfage and labour charges as well as haulage. He denied it was the company's policy to keep an excess of haulage waiting at the docks.

The hearing was continued.