Y our editorial comment "The quick and the dead" (CM 3-9
Page 28
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July) struck a chord with many, I suspect. It was not only a worthwhile re-statement of the truck and car populations (a pity it couldn't appear in the Daily Telegraph) but it contained a crucial phrase that could do with a wider airing: "Crippling delivery schedules", as you put it, are indeed the direct cause of widespread speeding. And, as your associated news story pointed out, the advent of speed limits has moved the problem on to the secondary road network.
As an ex-driver, I am surprised that the figure for trucks breaking the 40mph limit is as low as 72%. Shout me down, but if all trucks stuck to the 40mph limit on single carriageways there would be uproar from car drivers who already see trucks as "in their way" and not as "at their service".
I also smell a strong whiff of hypocrisy here from van fleet operators who deplore speeding and claim to uphold the highest levels of safety in public, while privately refusing to limit the speed of their vans below three figures (an easy no-cost job for many drive-by-wire vehicles these days), and also ask for manufacturers to supply cheaper "fleet-spec" models stripped of ABS.
Doubtless it takes a bit of backbone to reprimand a driver suspected of speeding when they have made five extra drops as a result. All the driver has really done is set a new benchmark and tightened the ratchet strap on his "slower" colleagues Name and address supplied.
Happy to go
Last week there was an article about the shortage of drivers. This week we have one about doing away with the retirement age. Am [being cynical in seeing a link between the two? At last, road haulage employers have realised that the only mugs left are old ones.
I was looking to work until 65 and draw my State Pension ASAP (I never earnt enough to pay a private pension). However, [have just been told that my LGV licence is being withdrawn on health grounds, with 19 months to go.
As a fourth generation road haulage man with 42 years in the game I should feel some regret. On the contrary—I feel nothing but relief. No more M25, no more fighting commuters for road space and space to park to unload. No more verbal from the customer who was promised his goods last week but the factory only made them yesterday.
Any young man who gets into this industry today must be mad. Even by going abroad there is no escape. You could end up in gaol in Morocco, beaten up or blockaded in France, or hi-jacked in Italy or Eastern Europe.
The boss has got a computer which knows exactly where you are. It won't be long before there will be a TV camera and he will know the name of the cafe you were in—although he might not be pleased to find out that you were telling the truth and there really were 20 wagons in front of you at the RDC.
An article on page 4 of this week's CM says that costs are rising about 5% a year while rates are rising by 2.6%. My son gave up running his own wagon because he could see himself having to run bent to break even.
The DVLA did me a favour!
Bob Rust, Basildon, Essex.