'Stop moaning' says Mawhinney
Page 10
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by Miles Brignall • Transport Secretary Dr Brian Mawhinney has told hauliers to stop complaining about operating conditions and to put their own house in order by making fundamental changes to maximise their efficiency.
Mawhinney was addressing the Freight Transport Association's national conference last week (1 March). When FTA president Angus Clark claimed that the Government gave little support to the haulage business, Mawhinney became visibly annoyed and threatened to rip up his planned speech so that he could immediately answer the allegation. He told the industry it must look at new ways of working. He pointed out that on 29% of journeys trucks are running empty, and suggested that operators could share information and loads to maximise efficiency (see news story, page 11).
Questioning whether hauliers from Scotland and the North travelling to the Continent should drive down to Dover, Mawhinney suggested that they get together to charter a ferry and travel direct to Europe.
He went on to pledge that the rail freight companies will be sold this year and told hauliers that they should look to rail to move loads over long distances and reverse the decline in railfreight.
In conclusion, Mawhinney called on the freight industry to get together with its opponents, such as the environmental lobby groups, in an attempt to find some common ground rather than coming to him to protest at the treatment the industry receives.