Darling listens to Scottish hauliers
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The Rt Hon Alistair Darling MP met with RHA director for Scotland and Northern Ireland, Phil Flanders, and three Scottish based hauliers at the Scotland Office in Edinburgh yesterday (September 22).
Flanders says that the Secretary of State requested the meeting so he could gain a better understanding of the concerns of Scottish hauliers and gather views and information on issues affecting the road transport industry.
The hauliers consulted were Dundee-based, Trevor Boyd, Eddie Magilton of Ramage Transport and Ian Henderson of Clyde Coast Carriers.
Flanders told ROADWAY: 'Mr Darling was keen to speak with some hauliers about issues such as the RTD, livestock transport, fuel prices, rates and impending legislation; including the 25.25m 60-tonne concept.
'He brought a team of advisors and was very receptive to the views put forward by the RHA and the hauliers. On the issue of fuel prices he listened to concerns and explained that he could not make promises, but would report back to the Chancellor. He was particularly interested in why hauliers found it hard to pass on fuel costs to their customers and seemed to take on-board the problems posed by foreign competition. Ian Henderson told the Secretary of State how he had lost a lucrative contract running from Edinburgh to London to Polish operators who undercut him by £250 per load and that this was the tip of the iceberg', Flanders continues.
'Ramage Transport had some specific issues which Mr Darling said he would address separately and his department would respond in writing. On the 60-tonne issue there were mixed feeling expressed by the hauliers, but all were agreed that the government must conduct a national trial before any firm decisions were made. Mr Darling said that he had found the meeting extremely useful and had a better understanding of the problems facing the industry as a result. He said that he would like to carry out a similar exercise in the not too distant future', Flanders adds.
