A sets Green co or hauliers
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• The Road Haulage Association is developing a 'Green' code of practice for hauliers in the face of ever increasing environmental demands on the road transport industry.
At this week's annual RHA conference in Orlando, Florida, director-general Bryan Colley said: "With two and a quarter million people voting for the Greens in the European elections last June, we cannot ignore the pressures on politicians and industry on this issue.'' Colley is adamant that the road transport industry must face up to the growing pressure from environmentalists: "We have to be seen taking a lead in constructive action to protect the environment," h said: "Otherwise we will ha regulations imposed on us."
A first draft of the code o practice has already been co sidered by the RHA top bra! Colley says the second draft will be unveiled later this ye "We are never going to get people to love the lorry," hE conceded, "but I suggest WE have to run even faster to stand still with the environm tal issues increasing in impo: ance." Colley warned the co ference: "All hauliers have t, be conscious of Green issue — that is why our environm tal code of practice will be s, important."
The Freight Transport As ciation says it has no plans t aduce a similar code for its Embers: "We are interested the environment," says a okeswoman, "but we choose cover it in different ways, rough our Operations )mmittee."
Judith Hanna of the environmtal pressure group Transrt 2000 says the news of a Teen code of practice. "is a Ep that we welcome. We )k forward to seeing full deIs of the code when it is Wished".
Hanna says she hopes the de will include pledges on El and emissions to bring -itish emissions standards in e with the US. She also Ants a commitment to workwith local authorities to
agree access to built-up areas, including a limit on vehicle sizes, restrictions to designated routes, and restricted times of access.
"The Freight Transport Association apparently already accepts in principal the growing feeling that more time management of truck movements in cities is needed," she says, "We would also like to see a commitment to a greater use of inter-model transport, with more short-haul work by operators to rail heads."
D RHA membership grew by more than 500 last year, and in the first eight months of this year it has risen another 398 taking the total to 11,316 companies.