Let'! let together
Page 48
Page 49
Page 50
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
THE SECOND SESSION "On whose account?" — started off as a feud between own-account and hire and reward hauliers.
But several speakers from the floor brought fusion from confusion and drew evident support from the conference tirith remarks that the two sides face common problems and should get _together.
And in conclusion, after question time Frank Woodward, transport services executive with the Plessey Co Ltd, who had introduced the paper, declared: "Let us go forward as one industry.'
At the start, Mr Woodward said he could summarise his paper quite simply. First, he said, he wanted to ask four questions Are the customers getting the service they need? Is the own-account side protected from incompetence?
Is the level of training in the own-account side less professional?
Is legislation more kindly in its effects on the own-account side?
All the answers, he said. are
-No— and, in the last case, a big "No."
He claimed that Ken Rogers, RHA national vice-chairman, had made a fatal mistake in his paper by arguing the case of Marks and Spencer "who are shop keepers, not industrialists.'" Ken Rogers, replying, said he stuck to his three reasons why it is best for industry to use hire and reward hauliers: financial, financial and financial.
-I suggest to you that the so-called profit from your own vehicles may well be, in reality, using current cost accounting, a loss.'" D. S. Stewart, managing director, Christian Salvesen (Transport) Ltd, said: -I don't think we should be arguing own-account .versus professional haulier.
"There is a place in industry for both of us. It's in the interest of all of us to get together."
V. A. Hacket, regional transport manager, East Midlands Gas, drew applause when he commented: "We should forget about this mud slinging.'"
D. A. Simmonds, distribution cost accountant, Charrington & Co Ltd, asked "What is an acceptable level of downtime?
D. A. Crowland, sugar distribution co-ordinator, British Sugar Corporation Ltd, reckoned there was no clear-cut case either in favour of own-account or hire and reward. A manufacturer needs professional experts for planning: when plans are drawn up, transport becomes an application. His company's products are related to sales policy, which decides distribution policy. G. W. Jones, distribution manager, Standard Telephones & Cables Ltd, said own-account could not look at transport as an entity; packaging often covers the empty return journey.
J. Starkey, transport manager, Armitage Ware Ltd, said own-account drivers are also ambassadors and clerks for their firms — something outside the scope of the hire and reward men. Hire and reward men do not develop the same relationship with customers; all they want is a signed delivery note.
D. H. White, BRS Group coordinator said the decision on own account transport or otherwise should be taken with the financial facts known to both parties.
R. Preston, transport manager, Porkshire Ltd, asked whether Mr Rogers had forgotten closed shops. Professional hau
liers complemented his company's services.
In greenfields situations, for products with limited shelf life, they are particularly useful, said Mr Preston.
Gordon W. Cheeseman, company transport and distribution manager, Lever Brothers Ltd, said that when a firm with own-account transport services hires the services of a professional haulier, it does so to find the least-cost route for goods.
N. R. Killip, distribution manager, Courage (Western) Ltd, thinks the idea of differences in granting new Certificate of Competence certificates, according to whether a man is own-account of professional, I udicrous.
-There are many more cowboys among small ownaccount firms, running vans driven by teenagers and break
ing every regulation under th sun."
Summing up Mr Rogers sa, that, from next year, he expec. the pure own-account side to a very small part of the industi since very few would ask for restricted 0 licence.
Very few people at th conference, he asserted, mak 32 per cent capital returr particularly using inflation a( counting. -And I doubt if the are, even on historical accoun ing," he added.
He agreed that the status road transport operation had t be raised.
Mr Woodward, summing ur pointed out that the profession; haulier has the right to refuE business; the own-accour operator could not. He himse would rather price himself oi than say "No" to business.