Re: Truck Dispute

["Rod Young" <freight_man@hotmail.com>]

You know in the '60's Rail was hauling the bulk of Melbourne to Sydney
freight, and despite rail putting the SG "tru in 62", rapidly lost ground.
About 80% down to 12% [I think was posted recently]
All those truckies are heading for financial ruin, and probably more quickly
than anyone can see at this moment.
One serious problem they have now, is that Banks and Finance Houses are
closing down on them rapidly. They are having great difficulty getting loans
for New Equipment.
Another problem is a recent doubling of Insurance Premiums, as these
Companies are less likely to carry the risks now associated with Owner
Drivers cutting things so close to the line, to try and survive.
Already some Truckies are changing their rigs to short haul city friendly
machines, and making good money connecting the rail heads with the
customers, and as a bonus, sleeping in their own beds at night, with lower
Loans, and much more money in their pockets.
Hard nosed truckies like those holding the Hume Highway at Wodonga to
ransom, will have their day in Court [bankrupt] whilst their thinking mates
pluck up all the cream in Sydney and Melbourne.
Large operations like Finnemores, who have shares in their own Railway
Companies [so I am led to believe] will continue to ply the Highways, and
their absolute buying power will add further nails to the coffins of the
soon to be extinct 'owner driver'
Wonder if you could call Paul Moore a Railway 'owner driver'
Rod рс
deano <dsma@pigpond.com> wrote in message
news:bM7Z4.9622$c5.15368@newsfeeds.bigpond.com...
> I've been on a few backshifts lately and notice that there seems to be a
lot
> of large freighters going Melbourne/Sydney/Brisbane.
> With the truckies blocking the Hume at Wodonga wanting the guvmint to set
> standard rates I was wondering. Is this pinch
> on road freight a direct result of what appears to be the large amount I
see
> passing by the platform. I mean some of those trains must be carting the
> loads of a hundred semis. Does anyone know what the figures for rail
> transport overall are for say the last ten years for freight??
>
>