Opinions and Queries
Page 74
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Guardian Association Commended
I WOULD refer to the article in your journal dated A November 23, headed "Guardian Association for Vehicle Repairs," written by Mr. W. H. Seward, and to your leading article relating to the same subject.
I have read Mr. Seward's remarks with considerable interest and feel that his suggestion, if carried out, would meet a long-standing need on the part of road transport operators, and, in particular, the fleet owner. His suggestion has particular force when applied to an organization such as ours, as our fleetis scattered throughout the country in groups of not more than four vehicles at widely dispersed points, making co-ordination rather -a problem. A considerable amount of latitude has, therefore, to be left to local garages.
Our particular problem would be much simplified if there was an association to which an operator could belong, and which would lead to a standard of repair work being laid down which could be relied upon by that operator.
Even if the cost was a little more it would still be worthwhile, because the operator would know that his repair and maintenance business was in the hands of a man who was, first, bound by the standards set by the association, and secondly, for the reason that he would have the right approach to commercial-vehicle servicing because he was in the association.
The advantages to long-distance operators whose vehicles run into mechanical trouble in the course of their journeys are too obvious to be emphasi7ed.
I sincerely hope that the association suggested by Mr. Seward comes into being and it can certainly be assured of the support of this Corporation.
London, S.W.1. F. D. PALMER,
Chief Transport Officer, The Fatstock Marketing Corporation', Ltd.
THE article by W. H. Seward concerning a guardian I association for vehicle repairs is one that must be of considerable interest to all private goodsand passenger-vehicle operators.
Whilst being a remarkably good idea, there would appear to be quite a number of difficulties to be overcome before The scheme could be 100 per cent. representative. These could be roughly defined as follows:—
(a) It is the experience of many owners in this industry that in all their years of operation they have never been put into any serious difficulty with the repair of their vehicles; any slight difference being cleared up, usually over the telephone, at the time of the occurrence, as Mr. Seward states.
(b) Many operators realize that their own repair knowledge and organization are much in advance of those of some of the public repair garages that they might have to use, this mainly being caused by their more intimate connection with the particular types of machine that they operate. Mr. Seward covers this latter point when he suggests that any garage proprietor applying for membership would have to satisfy the committee that he was efficient and suitable for commercial-vehicle repairs.
(c) To make the scheme fully effective and to a standard of efficiency that would induce full membership of commercial-vehicle operators, would demand a survey of national repair facilities offered by F28 commercial-vehicle specialists, as at present some of their depots are as much as 150 miles away from each other.
The article is obviously written by a man who has had considerable operating and maintenance experience, and if one could improve upon any of his suggestions, it could only be that to guarantee the financial reliability of operators inter-hiring each other's vehicles could also become a useful part of the duties of the proposed body.
Gosport. C. W. HILTrF IELD, Managing Director, Hutfield Coaches (Gosport), Ltd.
MAY we express our interest in your leading article of November 23 regarding the formation of an association with the object of bringing together operators of long-distance goods vehicles and those offering facilities to cope with breakdowns and repairs.
Operating, as we do, on the A5 and A45 roads, and specializing in this particular class of work, we feel that such an organization could solve many of the problems involved and save much of the expense to all concerned.
We are confident that there is a growing need for more establishments equipped for the repair of heavy commercial vehicles and we are in the process of erecting new workshops and stores solely for this purpose.
We would like, through you, to congratulate Mr. W. H. Seward • on his article and offer our support to the forming of such an association, which we shall be pleased to assist in any way possible.
Kilsby, nr. Rugby. L. CHANDLER, A.I.R.T.E.,
Manager, Blue Boar (Heavy Breakdowns)..
How Fuel Can• Be Saved FACED with rationing of fuel in peace-time, it is surely the duty of the Minister of Fuel and Power to use supplies to the best advantage of the nation. He must first ensure the distribution of essentials and then examine the employment position per 1,000 gal. of fuel available.
Allowing that economic use is made of the fuel supplied, factories should be first priority, followed by farmers and both passengerand goods-transport operators. Unless sensible supplies are allowed to these industries there will be mass unemployment.
All internal air lines should be grounded immediately, including services to Northern Ireland, Eire, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, also most European services and those to the U.S.A., as fast and comfortable alternative means for transport are readily available. The number of airline employees affected per 1,000 gal. of fuel would be smaller than in any other industry.
At this time of the year the cross-Channel shipping services can easily be reduced Finally, oil for the central heating of private houses should not be supplied unless there are no alternative means for heating.
During the emergency many people will suffer inconvenience, but this matters little compared with the misery of mass unemployment.
Bootle, Lancs. W. F. JONES.