10 drivers granted Os
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• An operator's licence for one vehicle was granted to each of the 10 drivers who had previously been employed by E. Holme (Transport) Ltd, of Barrow-in-Furness, from whom each driver will hire his vehicle. E. Holme Transport, formed to undertake the distribution of coal for E. Holme (Coal Merchants) Ltd, was also granted an operator's licence for five vehicles when the applications were heard by the Northern LA Mr J. A. T. Hanlon, in Barrow last week.
Counsel for the applicants, Mr M. Burrell, said that the main reasons for the operator's licences being held by the drivers were that this would bring increased productivity and an improved service to customers. Additional advantages of the scheme were that administrative overheads could be cut and one vehicle could be dispensed with. The scheme had been on/ trial from December 1 1969 to March 31 1970 and all the objectives had been achieved. Each driver would pay a hiring charge and a maintenance charge to E. Holme Transport who would undertake all the maintenance. The company would allow each driver to distribute coal in one particular area.
• Mr Bruce Holme, director of E. Hohne Transport. said that for the first 1500 tons of coal delivered each driver was paid 27s per ton. For the next 1000 tons he would receive 28s per ton and the rate would increase at is per 1000 tons until it was 32s per ton at 2000 tons, which was the optimum yearly figure for one driver with one vehicle. A hiring charge of £750 would be deducted from this rate of pay during the course of the year. If any driver wished to pay his own maintenance bills he would receive an extra 3s. per ton. The maintenance and the inspections would still be carried out by E. Holme Transport. Mr Holme assured the LA that the drivers would not be restricted in any way but could use their vehicles as they wished, although their main source of income would be from the coal business.