OPINIONS and O UERIES
Page 30
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The Editor invites correspondence on all subjects connected with the use of com mercial motors. Letters should be written on only one side of the paper. The right of abbreviation is reserved and no responsibility for views expressed is accepted. Queri:s must be accompanied by a stamped, addressed envelope.
Transport Costing a Vital Factor
TN a leading article, "Transport Costing a Vital I Factor," in your issue dated December 13, there is astatement on competition for haulage on which I would like to make a comment.
You mention that a" well-known transport contractor condemns the alleged high pool rates, but may I suggest that these are not too high, and the pools do not take an excessive profit, as do some of the clearing houses and certain hauliers.
The pools take only 5 per cent. from the full rate, whereas, in other cases, the amount is often 10 per cent. and sometimes the full rate received is not paid to the haulier concerned.
A well-known clearing house at Liverpool offered me, a job, which I refused on account of the low rate, which. was immediately increased by 35. 6d. per ton. Therefore, it would appear that this concern was taking the 10 per cent, plus the Ss. 6d. Other haulage contractors have carried out the same principle, revising their offers immediately the lower rates have been refused, so that it is not surprising that haulage men may be inclined to prefer the pools.
Many haulage men have increased their rates by only 10 per cent. to 15 per cent. to the concerns for which they carried before this war, yet the latter are charging perhaps 50 per cent. more for their manufactured goods. Some of these hauliers are leading members of associations, and even group organizers—fine examples to an industry which has been in a perilous condition for some years. Now is the time that they should be pulling themselves on to their feet. Hauliers and clearing houses are still quoting 8s. to 9s. a ton from Liverpool to the Oldham side of Manchester, a lead of 40-50 miles, often taking three to tour hours to load at the docks and two to three hours to unload. This means a full day of 11 hours or more for 24 to 25 with a: wagon and trailer. Goods are being carried from Manchester to Liverpool at 10s. per ton, and it sometimes takes up to 10 hours to unload, so there is not much profit there.
My advice is that haulage rates should be inereased to give a working profit, war or no war, and the pool rates are on a proper basis.
I presume that the complaining contractor knows that the heads of the pools are themselves haulage contractors, and, ,therefore, should know the 'cost of running lorries in these days, whereas few of the clearing houses have any real idea of operating costs.
There are probably not 50 per cent, of hauliers earning the rates you give in your Tables of Operating Costs. Some of these men will receive a shock when they require replacement vehicles. They will not be able to go into the low-priced used-vehicle market, as they could in pre-war days. I do not believe in taking advantage of war 'conditions in the way of increasing rates to an excessively high level, but I do believe in running the haulage .industry at a reasonable working profit, and drivers should be paid good wages, for they well deserve them, what with the black-out and Working long hours in inclement weather, HAULIER. Manchester.