'My stomach can't take any more from the tourists in this field'
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have unlimited funds to play within an industry which, sadly, they know nothing about.
In addition, European Community relaxation of container licensing has allowed the entry of domestic hauliers who have little idea of what to charge or how to do the job. Some of these operate without CMR insurance or green card cover. A UK haulier called me late one night and said: "Can I hire a tractor unit from you? We've had an accident on the M25 and we're on our way to France with a load of sheep." It turned out he was carrying 700 lambs to Paris and had never been before. "What is a green card and a CMR?" he said.
"What is your rate," I asked. "I don't know," was the reply. A host too numerous to mention come blundering into the industry, cutting rates by up to 50%—this leads to a lack of welfare for the livestock being transported causing concern to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the RSPCA and animal rights lobbying groups. My stomach can no longer take any more From the tourists in this field—so called international livestock hauliers. My vehicles were among the first to have on-board automatic watering systems, air suspension, hydraulic tail-lifts, 40% ventilation and a heavy investment in prototype vehicles to give to MAFF for trial, repeated testing and subsequent approval. We do not deserve to be tarred with the same brush as the rate cutters, crowders and cowboys who should leave well alone and stick to what they know best. It ain't livestock transport and it ain't profitable business either.