Memorandum by Meeks of Luton (RH39)
WHAT THE
TRANSPORT INDUSTRY
WANTS FROM
OUR GOVERNMENT
1. Competitive fuel duty and fuel prices
We would like to know who benefited from 3p per litre
saving in fuel duty, with Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel over the original
"dirty" Diesel?
Foreign Lorries and International Operators
never purchase fuel in this country, because it is too expensive.
Fuel purchased from abroad is dirty diesel and NOT ULSD, which
is not complimentary to the Governments Environmental Policy.
We bulk purchase Fuel at approximately 18,000
ltrs at a time. The Oil Companies have used us to fund the competition
at the pumps, by slashing the differential in bulk and pump prices.
It used to be around 30p per gallon. At present it is about 9p,
but at times last year it was almost the same price!
2. Vehicle Excise Duty at reasonable rates
Transport Companies in the UK pay far too much
compared to rest of Europe.
From within our Industry it would appear whoever
(DETR.?) sets the rates for different combinations does not understand
what they are doing? For example, they allowed a two axle unit
with a two axle trailer, normally a maximum of 32 ton at £2,530,
to up rate to 35 ton with the same number of axles for £5,170.
This again makes a mockery of the environmental argument and the
damage caused to the roads.
3. A Transport Forum that Works
It is no good having talks about talks, which
is what we remember about Dr. John Reid, we have to see progress
being made.
The majority of Hauliers see the Forum as the
proper platform from which to fight our cause. However, it was
the Demonstrations that got us the Transport Forum in the first
place and being in Park Lane enabled us to get our message across
to the general public.
4. Acknowledgement of the Importance of Transport
to Industry..
Everybody who operates commercial vehicles are
fed up with it being Politically Correct to bash Lorries.
There may well be 30-40 companies the size of
Eddie Stobart, but there are thousands of companies like A.E.
Meeks Ltd. and without us the Transport System would collapse.
We want to know we are being listened to and not dismissed out
of hand, being labelled as "extremists."
5. Government Transport Policy
The Government must differentiate between commercial
vehicles and cars. So far when policy hits the motorist it hits
the trucks as well. Public Transport desperately needs investment
to get people out of their cars, but trucks go out for a purpose.
6. Realistic Road Building Programme
Road building and maintenance must be taken
seriously and not just another budget to be slashed and funds
reallocated. More revenue raised from Fuel Duty and Vehicle Excise
Duty should be made available for this purpose.
7. Operators Licences
A review of the Operators Licence Legislation,
especially the changes implemented last year. This makes it highly
likely that Operators could lose their Licence for two relatively
minor offences, especially as Traffic Commissioners now have no
leeway as to what disciplinary action to take.
A change in the Law on overloading. Make the
Individual or Company who overloads a commercial vehicle equally
responsible with the driver/haulier for the offence. This would
make them take it seriously, because at the moment some just do
not care. Hauliers are regularly given false information on weights
and then unknowingly commit an offence.
8. The Government claims our Industry is Inefficient
It is official that the Government thinks the
Road Transport Industry is inefficient. No operator sends a vehicle
out to be inefficient and to lose money. The "Just in Time"
principle and return load element of our industry have caused
untold damage. Every customer wants to use a system of return
loads and more importantly where return load rates apply. "Someone"
has to pay for the outward bound journey? Our company does back
load when possible, but we will not go from Liverpool to Portsmouth
for less than we would charge from Luton to Portsmouth. That is
what is expected.
Certain major Companies with large warehouses
(RDC's) are the cause of horrendous delays for vehicles delivering/collecting.
Delays of three to six hours are common place and the attitude
of take it or leave it is prevalent. We had a customer who had
three orders for Woolworths at Swindon. When an order was placed
a booking was given, so three orders three delivery bookings all
on the same day! So naturally all three deliveries were loaded
on one trailer in the correct order and despatched for the bookings
0913-1208 and 1445. We were condemned and threatened with being
banned, because of our actions. Our vehicle was at Swindon from
0900 until gone 1630 hours. We were well prepared to wait, but
Woolworths expected three different deliveries on three different
vehicles. So who is the company who is inflexible, arrogant and
inefficient? Regrettably, this is common place in Industry but
it is equally important for this side to be put right as well.
Finally, no Operator wants bigger and heavier
vehicles. It is the big users of road transport who demand such
increases in weight capacities and volume. These companies make
all the savings, but the Haulier gains very little, if anything
from providing these expensive vehicles.
9. Foreign Vehicles in UK
Make the foreign vehicles pay. Either by the
"Brit Disc" and/or by restricting the amount of fuel
they can bring into this country.
February 2000
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