FROM THE POSTBAG A Southern operator at present driving a
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7-tanner on contract asks for advice on the possibility of acquiring an open licence and at the same time leasing a new 6-wheeler which he considers would be more economic and competitive.
At the outset it must be emphasized that in applying for an open A licence such an application would inevitably meet with substantial opposition from existing operators. Nevertheless, the licensing procedure does not prohibit such an application, but if this operator considers proceeding with it he would be well advised to obtain the services of a legal adviser specializing in licensing court procedure.
Difficult though the licensing hurdle may be, the proposed method of acquiring the new 6-wheeler could prove even more so. In general, leasing of commercial vehicles is usually more applicable to the large user rather than the small operator or ownerdriver. Because they are supplying a vehicle to a client with no deposit, the leasing company must obviously make a more rigorous test of the prospective client's financial standing than with other forms of credit facilities. As a result it could be that whilst a small operator might find he could obtain a vehicle on hire purchase, including of course the necessity for a deposit, his financial standing might not be sufficient to permit leasing.