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Creature Comfort
Page 88
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TRA FFIC transferred from rail to road during the recent strike of footplate workers included many thousands of animals, some of them scheduled for long journeys. According to reports, fanners and merchants were more than satisfied with the service they received and with the condition of the loads on delivery. As with other commodities, it seems likely that much of the livestock traffic will not return to the railways, This development, if it takes place, will be no more than an acceleration of the shift in public favour that has increased with the growth of road transport.
Concern for the welfare of animals is much greater now than it was a century ago, and the methods for ensuring that welfare have kept pace with public opinion. Cattle were carried by rail almost from the first. One can imagine the outcry from animal lovers today if cattle were still herded into the flimsy, open trucks shown in early pictures of the railways. The facilities have improved enormously, as part of the general progress of the railways, and no doubt also as a means for avoiding the criticisms of an increasingly exacting public.
Road Superiority
Road transport, has a number of natural advantages that should enable it to give a superior service to that of the railways for the carriage of animals. The journey by road is direct from farm to market, and from market back to farm, or to slaughterhouse or factory. The time taken is usually much less than by rail, an important point with most animals, which are hardly ideally designed for travel on any form of vehicle.
Cattle carried in heavy goods vehicles would benefit from an increase to 30 m.p.h. of the present speed limit. The restriction to 20 m.p.h. has been a long-standing grievance to livestock operators, accentuated by the fact that horseboxes, whatever the unladen weight, are not affected. The distinction that puts horses on a par with humans, and assigns cattle, sheep and pigs to the same category as iron ore and furniture, is, in fact, not easy to understand.
Personal Attention
Road operators can adjust the journey to the load. When an animal is frightened or distressed, the driver, if he is sensible, will slow down or stop in order to give his passenger time to recover. When the trouble is sufficiently serious, he can without difficulty change his route, perhaps to deliver his load at a nearer destination than arranged. Equal attention to the troubles of animals in transit may be given by railway officials, but far more trouble has to be taken, where, for example, it is found necessary to take a truck off a train and transfer it to the nearest cattle dock.
The adaptability of road transport may occasionally be to the disadvantage of operators. Regulations to prevent the spread of foot and mouth disease enable the authorities to prevent the passage of road vehicles across affected areas. During an epidemic operators may have to make lengthy detours. Alternative routes are not so easily found on the railways, and it is, therefore, fortunate for them that the prohibition on passing through the banned area extends to road carriers only. B38 Whether an animal travels more comfortably by road than by rail must depend upon a number of factors, including the skill of the drivers. Perhaps livestock have their individual fancies, just as some people dote on trains and others shun them, and one man's favourite bus is another man's bone-shaker. The animal cannot easily show his preference, unless the difference is very great. The vehicle is chosen for him and his vocabulary of complaint is limited.
On the whole, up-to-date livestock road vehicles at least give the appearance of being the last word in comfort. They are carefully designed to hold as many animals as possible without overcrowding, but the progressive haulier is also aware that the contented animal looks best at the end of the journey. He chooses a vehicle with the welfare of the passengers in mind. He secs that the floor is corrugated, so that the animals can keep their footing easily. He makes sure there is sufficient ventilation, but not too much.
Tailor-made Vehicles
The operator who specializes in the carriageof a certain kind of animal will have his vehicle bodies made to measure. The modern sheep-carrying lorry, for example, with its three decks, is divided into fairly small compartments. The load can then be spread evenly, and the animals are not crushed.
Livestock is essentially a special traffic. It was not subject to the 25-mile limit, and although British Road Services took over a large number of livestock vehicles, there has been no great desire to retain them. Drivers employed by livestock operators have to understand their charges and be skilled in handling them. There is more likelihood on the railways, which are handling every possible kind of traffic, that animals may be left in the care of a man who knows little about them.
Transport of animals, whether by road or by rail, is no easy task. A driver may have to load and unload many different species, with widely different habits: Sheep proverbially—although not always in practice— follow the leader; pigs tend to scatter. The animals may have to be collected from an up-to-date market with excellent loading facilities, or from an isolated farm with no amenities at all.
Industrial Ambassador
The driver is regarded by the public as the representative, not only of his employer, but of road haulage as a whole. He may have upon him the watchful eyes of many people, including officials of such drganizations as the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. It is important that he should know his job thoroughly, and at all times maintain a high standard of conduct.
A wise move on the part of the livestock section of the Road Haulage Association has been to give consideration to the preparation of a booklet that will, among other things, contain hints for drivers on the proper handling of animals in transit. The livestock operator spends a lot of money on his vehicles. To get the maximum .return, he is well advised to make sure that his drivers appreciate as much as hc does the importance of treating well the animals that are entrusted to their care.