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'Industry support is increasing for a common standard of compliance'

14th May 2009, Page 21
14th May 2009
Page 21
Page 21, 14th May 2009 — 'Industry support is increasing for a common standard of compliance'
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

IN A RECENT edition of CM, I was quoted as saying that the burden of enforcement ought to he shifted "away from the majority of law-abiding companies towards those who set out to deliberately break the rules..." (`European haulage needs harmonised law enforcement', 23 April).

My use of the word 'deliberately' seemed to cause some contention (Rd;s note: See the comment One rule for all...' in the same issue), but while I still stand by these words, I would like to clarify my meaning.

I was speaking in the context of a seminar that the International Road Transport Union (TRU) and the Freight Transport Association co-hosted in Brussels concerning European enforcement.

Whereas UK operators seem to operate to the gold standard of compliance, certain overseas operators are among some of the worst offenders when it comes to flouting EU rules.

There is a great deal of disparity between drivers and operators in various EU countries, and there are some brazen and deliberate floutings of the law.

The good news, though, is that there is huge and growing support among operators and enforcement officials in the EU for a common standard of compliance to he applied across Eli countries.

We should all be proud of the fact that UK operators set the pace when it comes to road safety and driver compliance across the EU. We also lead the way in terms of enforcement procedures. Indeed, both operators and enforcement officers at the seminar expressed support for wider adoption of the UK's Operator Compliance Risk Score (OCRS) system.

Opportunity knocks

So, while the collective will is apparent (and was palpable among delegates at the seminar), there is still a sense that those businesses that disrespect the law and have no qualms about willfully staining the image of our industry must be dealt with in the strictest of terms.

It would be hard to imagine a case where serious infringements that endanger other road users — such as tacho fraud or major drivers' hours infringements — are not deliberately undertaken, and mere ignorance of the law is not a reasonable defence in such cases.

However, while ignorance will not stand up in a court of law, it

is unreasonable for enforcemen agencies to expect operators tha are now faced with an increase( list of legal boundaries — to bs aware of all minor infringement! But we are talking here abou minor infringements only.

While we are rightly proud our record when compared u other EILI countries, it would bi wrong to rest on our laurels. Thosi with good OCRS scores shouli be looking to maintain those o even improve on them.

And for those who perform les well, don't be afraid or ashamei to look for help.

It's in all our interests to be th best. Don't look at a poor OCR score as a stigma: see it as ai opportunity to improve.. •


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