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British Hauliers 'is for people on their knees'
Page 14
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British Hauliers has a small membership but its leadership says it still has a role. Guy Sheppard reports.
A RECRUITMENT campaign has failed to significantly boost membership of British Hauliers but it may still prove an influential force in road transport, according to leader John Bridge.
The former chairman of the Road Haulage Association set up the pressure group earlier this year as a division of Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce, where he is chief executive.
He explains:"We are not trying to compete with the RHA and the ETA [Freight Transport Association] but we are trying to truly represent people who are on their knees and don't know where to turn."
He claims that both trade associations now appear to be taking a similar stance to British Hauliers in opposing the government's planned introduction of the Lorry Road User Charge (LRUC): "I don't know whether we have had some influence or not but certainly it has made them rethink. The RHA has really hardened up on the fuel issue, which is something we have been campaigning about as well."
Bridge says membership of British Hauliers now stands at more than 100 following the launch of a recruitment campaign two months ago (CM 7 October).
ETA spokesman Geoff Dossetter says he is surprised it has attracted even 100 members: "The government don't enjoy dealing with two organisations and would prefer to deal with one. The idea that they [British Hauliers] were seeking the government's attention seems a little bit ambitious."
Roger King, chief executive of the RHA, says its stance on the LRUC has never changed: "We have loads of questions and caveats about it but it is silly to say we don't want anything to do with it."