Editorial What image campaign?
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WHAT HAS happened to the campaign to improve the image of the industry which was being organised by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders? Since SMMT announced last summer that it was to mount a campaign with financial backing of £500,000 nothing appears to have happened.
Having taken the initiative in the move for a campaign in 1983, CM offered its assistance to the public relations company engaged by SMMT to organise the campaign. There has been one two-hour meeting since last summer at which we furnished the SMMT's agent with enough information to get things moving, but nothing has happened.
If this is how the image campaign is to be handled, we despair for the industry.
The SMMT may have been wiser to have used the wealth of or talent available to it from the ranks of its members. These people are involved daily in promoting the image of their companies and would be more than capable of promoting the image of the entire industry. With £500,000 to spend they would tell the transport story loud and well.
As opposition to the renewal of operators licences grows in the traffic courts, so will the anti-lorry lobbies make their voices heard. Even the smallest adverse aspect of road transport operation will receive a bad press.
During what has been described as "the most damaging and bitter dispute in trade union history" it was road hauliers who ensured that our power stations were supplied with coal. This they did at great personal risk and not, as has been suggested, at highly lucrative rates. Little was made public of this valuable service.
It is well past the time when we should be hearing from the SMMT campaign organisers.