R.H.A. Publi city Plan Fails
Page 33
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BECAUSE of a lack of response by members of the Road Haulage Association, the scheme for a national direct-mail drive to increase the traffic of free hauliers has failed. The plan (explained in "The Commercial Motor " on May 4) was devisad by Mr. H. F. Capon, who is a leading member of the R.H.A. national public relations committee.
The idea was that the Association should prepare eight publicity folders, which would be sent to members at agreed intervals, so that the hauliers could post them simultaneously to their customers. The cost of 25 copies of. each leaflet, making a total of 200, was to have been 25s.; larger quantities would have been supplied pro rata.
A spokesman of the R.H.A. told " The Commercial Motor," this week, that hauliers raised various objections on practical grounds, although it was felt that the idea was good. The cost to the individual would also have been remarkably low.
The scheme was proposed at a time when operators were fully occupied. Certain hauliers also felt that some of their customers might be attracted away from them. The restrictive effect of the 25-mile limit created doubts in the minds of operators of the desirability of canvassing for work which they might not be able to undertake. Some hauliers also wished to restrict the number of their customers, so that they could maintain the quality of service at a high level.
The R.H.A. pointed out that, to some extent, the proposal depended on interworking, which was at present not as highly developed as it might be.
Efforts will undoubtedly be made at the Association's conference at Torquay, in October, to extend the grouping movement.