R.H.A. Accept Longdistance Section 1 AST week's meetin g of the
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national executive committee of the Road Haulage Association accepted the principle of a section within the Association specifically for long-distance hauliers. It is understood that the executive were not in favour of including a mileage figure in the definition of a long-distance haulier. It had been proposed that a long-distance haulier should be defined as one operating beyond a radius of 70 miles. It was thought that a nationally imposed radius limit would be unfair to hauliers in some parts of the country.
The next step is to form a permanent national committee and local committees, and to work out terms of reference. The matter will now be referred back to the interim committee,
who will report to the next meeting of the executive. The main difficulty is to decide who will be eligible for membership of the section. The Commercial Motor understands that it will not be confined to trunk hauliers.
The executive were optimistic about the hopes of liaison with British Road Services. Wages and the speed limit on heavy goods vehicles are two subjects of immediate concern to both sides. Although the formal machinery of liaison is rusty, many informal discussions between the R.H.A. and B.R.S. are stated to have taken place. Concern was expressed about the increasing tendency to impose restrictions on the loading and unloading of goods vehicles. A resolution from the West Midland Area called for concerted action on the matter.