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EYE
By The Hawk VIEW Profit and Loss In our last week's issue
caustic comment was made on the foolishness of unecomonic operation. By a coincidence two news items in the same issue—though seemingly unconnected—made silent comment on the value of economic operation. On page 48 the f3.79 m. profit of the Transport Development Group was announced. On page 54, in an account of a heavily contested A-licence application, one objector was recorded as having quoted rates 20 per cent higher than the successful contractor. The objector was Western Transport Ltd.—a TDG company.
Large, successful groups like TDG know it is not enough just to be in operation—the traffic must be profitable. If it is not, they must do what the small man is so reluctant to do—say "No ".
N. Western Rumour Rumour has it that there is some disquiet among the licensing fraternity in the North Western traffic area. The Licensing Authority, Charles Hodgson, who recently took over up there from Maj. Gen. Elmslie is getting through his cases too quickly.
Now that may be all right for the court officials and the shorthand writers (a dying race, I regret to say) but it can be a little embarrassing for the barristers and solicitors who appear in those courts, when they send in accounts to their clients.
On the Contrary It's a different kettle of fish
completely in the sunny Western Area, however. Since Mr. J. R. C. Samuel-Gibbon (affectionately known by all in the business as "Sammy Gibbon ") took over in Bristol from his predecessor, Stanley Nelson, hearing lists that would have been got through in a morning are now taking a whole day—to the exasperation of some of the locals.
This may appear to be a little hard on Western Area applicants. On the surface it may also appear costly in terms of time and money. But is it? So far there have been no appeals to the Transport Tribunal against any of Sammy Gibbon's decisions and appeals, as the unfortunate haulier who has experience of them knows, cost money, with a capital M.
The fleet of ex-London buses being preserved by transport museums, enthusiasts' organizations and so on is growing, and is spreading to many other parts of the world. Latest preservation venture, I am told, concerns RT 2657, one of the large fleet of RT-type buses gradually being replaced by Routemasters.
Back to Paris
Light-less At least five of the 75 com
peting vehicles at Saturday's Lorry Driver of the Year eliminator in Weymouth had only one brake light working. Our man-on-the-spot told me he saw five thus faulty. Not, I would have thought, the best advertisement for road transport.
One black mark to Weymouth's organizers (who, this apart, did an excellent job). They didn't notice the change in national regulations taking account of 42-ft. 6-in.-long artics. The Weymouth programme still referred to trailers " up to 30 ft.". National regulations now refer to 38 ft. Tut, tut, Weymouth! What would you have done if a maximumlength artic had entered, refused to accept it?
Spotting a Winner The Leeds city fathers should
know more about what makes men tick after Monday's experience. On that day they commenced an experiment with a commercial vehicle park about a mile from the City centre.
The intention was that traders should phone an adjacent office to advise waiting drivers when space was available for unloading goods at traders' premises.
On Monday this parking scheme did not attract a single vehicle. But it did attract three men who mistook the office for a betting shop!
Maybe the city fathers would back a winner yet if they backed their fancy both ways and ran a combined traffic office and betting shop!
One good thing about the Northampton RHA sub area's annual dinner is— surprisingly enough—that it is an all-male affair (except for the entertainers!). This provides an opportunity for the boys to talk shop all night long.
Asked to speak on a topical but controversial subject to the 300-strong gathering this year, colleague Norman Tilsley was taken aback when, half way through his talk, somebody started to heckle. The interrupter thought our man had said that all hauliers were unscrupulous—quite naturally he didn't like that. But all's well that ends well. Norman was able to show the heckler—a haulier of some substance in Wellingborough—his "script ", which proved that the gentleman concerned had misheard what was said. They ended up the best of friends.
All's Well ...