45 Minutes Wasted
Page 36
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ON September 18 I listened to a Midland broadcast debate on the denationalization of road transport and although I cannot claim to be an expert on transport, I would say that it was 45 minutes of wasted time, both sides airing their views and getting nowhere.
One has only to study the number of C-licensed vehicles on the roads to appreciate the fact that business people prefer to move their own goods, even at the cost of running empty on the return journey. Consider the thousands of miles covered day and night by vehicles in this class running empty; yet, if they did not, business would be brought to a standstill.
Think how this wastage of fuel, manpower and machines could be obviated by setting up depots covering every important city and town, where drivers could report for return loads. . Take Birmingham, for instance, 20 -or 30 concerns could be nominated to receive instructions from others regarding loads for delivery, and a driver calling at any such nominee could be directed to pick up the load most suitable for his vehicle to deliver on his return route.
A reasonable charge for these return loads could be made, and as the C-licence holder is now satisfied to run empty, the larger proportion of these return-load charges could be taken as a Government levy. The remainder could be left to cover wear and tear.
The levy, as at present outlined in the Transport Bill, is an imposition on those holding C licences, and they quite rightly resent the idea of such a charge, but how many would object to, say, 60 per cent. of return-load charges going to the Government?
This would increase the amount of Government levy available for subsidizing other forms of transport, and would benefit the ancillary operator by keeping his vehicles from running empty. As we all know, empty running is most detrimental to any vehicle.
Birmingham, 11. W. TONK INSON