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CRACKED SCREENS

18th January 1986
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Page 18, 18th January 1986 — CRACKED SCREENS
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

MR McKENZIE's letter on cracked windscreens (CM, January 4) highlights a quite wide misunderstanding of the legal position On laminated windscreens. Generally, a vehicle may legally be driven with a cracked laminated screen provided that no cracks rim right across the screen, from either top to bottom or side to side.

Perhaps of more interest to the operator is the fact that cracked and chipped laminated screens can he quickly, cheaply and effectively repaired using Multipart's repair kit.

John B. Haigh

Marketing illelliager

.t heltipart Charley Lancashire

DOORSTEPPING ASSOCIATION

HOW timely was your editorial of December 14 urging the UK to obtain the right level of influence in Europe. There can be no doubt whatever that British industry needs to be strongly represented, at the very minimum to the same degree AS other member states.

This is a problem long-since recognised by the Freight Transport Association. But the extent of the difficulties also needs to be recognised. Quite clearly it is not easy to obtain consensus frc.mi 10 — soon to be 12 — different countries when even agreeing the agenda for the business of the day can take many hours.

Over the years FTA has done plenty of work in this area. In addition to playing a key role in the work of IRU, UNICE and ESC, representing European employer interests, there is regular liaison with the Commission, the Comiti: Paritaire, with the European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee, to say nothing of the Department of' Transport and HM Government.

All very time-consuming. Over the last four years FTA representatives have made more than 20 trips to Brussels in order to make progress on the drivers' hours review alone. When you consider how many issues UK freight transport operators and users are involved in, you quickly appreciate the magnitude and time commitment of the task. And in 19S6 I shall be leading various FTA delegations to the Commission, aimed at improving the UK lot in Europe.

Certainly we are interested in talking to any organisation or influence or potential influence on the European transport scene and look forward to working with ETMC (European Transport Maintenance Council). But nobody should be under any false illusions as to just how complex the task really is.

Door-stepping at Brussels amounts to a long and hard grind. The FIA is already there and will continue to be so. Garry Turvey

Dircaor.qenerai

Freight Transport Association Tunbridge Wells, Kent

INFLUENCING BRUSSELS

YOUR editorial of December 13 gives an impression of some confusion about how the road haulage industry can influence officials in Brussels.

The European Transport Maintenance Council is, without doubt, a Worthwhile organisation which provides a useful forum for vehicle manufacturers and operators to discuss matters of mutual concern — related to maintenance. The impression given in your editorial is that the council could be the "single respected representative body" which operators need to drive home the message in Brussels; there is implied regret that the "rather slower moving Road Haulage Association" has not given its support.

In fact, the RI IA is not a member of ETMC because its technical members and representatives have several times

carefully considered and declined thi opportunity to participate. The fact that the ETMC has not projected in in such a way as to appeal strongly our members even on maintenance matters. The RHA considers that it numerous members of the Institute Road Transport Engineers, with wh we work closely, can provide whate input is needed to ETMC. When operations are required in the "corni of power in Brussels and Strasbourg to borrow your elegant and highly original phrase, we use the Enternati, Road Transport Union's Liaison Committee based in Brussels; a son. RHA Executive is the vice-president this influential pressure group. Alternatively, we sent our technical manager to lobby at the EEC: itself.

1 discussed the issue at length will that very nice and able man Frank L when he was my host at an internati conference over a year ago.

As regards our speed of movemer we accept that On certain non-urgeir issued the RHA is more deliberate ti impetuous. This is because the RHA in the main, a proprietors' associatio Unlike other organisations involved road transport whose members arc employees, mainly managers and executives of large concerns, most o our members are spending their min money. -lhey therefore call the tune terms of policy, and, as you may be aware, democracy is rarely a rapid process.

Slow moving we may appear to b occasions — but we know where we want to go and how to get there! Freddie Plaskett

Director-general Road Haulage Association London SW6

Tenders wanted

MERSEYSIDE, West Midlands and Strathclyde are inviting bus and coach operators interested in operating tendered bus services to contact them.

Merseyside PTE is holding a meeting for interested operators in the Senate House, Liverpool University.. Oxford Street, Liverpool on Tuesday. January 21.

West Midlands PTE would like interested operators to write to its Service Tender section at 16 Summer Lane, Birmingham by the end of this month.

Strathclyde wants to set up a register of public transport service tenderers. Anyone wishing to operate tendered (subsidised) services in the region on a contract basis should write to the PTE Passenger Needs Department, Consort House, Glasgow, by the end of the month. It does not matter if the individuals or organisations do not hold an Operator licence or a Community Bus Permit, although they will need to be suitably qualified before any contract can be-awarded. •

Franchises offered

A COMPANY which sells workshop consumables such as fasteners and fast moving automotive parts to .garages, hauliers and fleet operators direct from vans, is planning to double its activity by franchising.

Over the next six years Trust Parts Limited of Swindon (0793 723749) intends to offer franchises in areas not yet covered by its 63-strong sales force. The company, still only half the size of its major competitors, is strong in the Midlands, East Anglia and the north of England.

Managing director Robin Bourne told CM that he is looking for ambitious people between the ages of 25 and 50. "We want to expand but it is becoming difficult to recruit dedicated .sales professionals of the calibre we already have. A knowledge of the automotive industry is advantageous but not essential. The main thing is a person's commitment to the success of the franchise and the furtherance of our joint success" he said.

Trust Parts, a growing company that has been in operation since 1979, showed a pre-tax profit of £310,000 last year on a £3.5 million turnover. It sells 800 lines of own label and brand leader names.

For an investment of 522,000 the franchisee will receive initial training, a leased vehicle with stock and an agreed territory.

In addition he will continue to be supported with free weekly deliveries, monthly credit on stock supplies, information on national accounts contracts and a back-up vehicle in the event of a major breakdown. With a 50 per cent mark up Trust Parts estimates that the franchisee can earn 5210,000 in the first year and that profit may increase up to £35,000 in subsequent years.

So long as records and receipts are kept, certain expenditure incurred in setting up a business can be offset against tax.

• Anyone buying a franchise of any description should contact a solicitor with specialist knowledge, who will be able to spell out the obligations and conditions if he wishes to sell at a later date.

The British Franchise Association (0491 578049) can also offer advice on such matters as insurance and public

Extended warranties

EXTENDED warranties which stretch cover into the second and third year of a vehicle's life arc common in the car world.

More recently, according to Car Care Plan, extended warranties have become more popular with commercial vehicle buyers who want to be able to budget for the unforeseeable. height sleeper cab is priced at 526,70 plus VAT.

Prices for the Dodge 50 and 100 Commando series go up by between 2.5 and four per cent to reflect the recent product improvements. A 7.5. tonne GVW S75 is now 5211,420 plus VAT, while a G16 Commando is priced at £20,330 plus VAT.

The rest of the Renault range goes up in price by 3.5 per cent. A 4x2 G260.TD 192kW (257hp) tractive unit is now £29,965 plus VAT while the top-of-the-range R310 costs 5232,800 plus VAT. A 16-tonner G171 rigid retails at £22,365 plus VAT.

Car Care Plan of Leeds (0532 5621 operates the manufacturers'extended warranties for Bedford and Iveco anc also has an all-makes second and thir year warranty called Roadline. It is available via the dealer who supplies truck and it can cover either new or used vehicles. The company says that per cent of its Roadline business is w new vehicles.

Operators can buy either the secon or second and third-year warranty. T level of cover provided is slightly bel the manufacturer's first-year warrantl because it excludes minor items like broken door handle, but it does cove the major mechanical and electrical running gear items.

There is no mileage limitation on t Roadline warranty; instead, there is a £9,000 ceiling on the value of warran work during the second and third ym. The truck has to be serviced in accordance with the manufacturer's schedule, either by a dealer or the operator's own workshops, once they have been approved by Car Care Nat

If any arbitration between the operator and company is needed, Frei Transport Association inspectors are engaged as independent engineers.

Prices of the Roadline second and third-year warranties arc based on the weight of the vehicle and range betw( £100 for a car-derived van up to 521,5( for a 38-tonne GCW unit.

axing warmer

NOMINAL waxing point of ngrade diesel occurs when the air crature Falls to -9°C.

ever, if it is mixed with summer

• in a holding tank the waxing wilt rise to A point nearer to 0°C.

• prevent waxing, vehicles can be iped with a heating device or an ive can be mixed with the fuel. tives must be applied before any al formation takes place at a ratio to he prevailing temperature itions.

ixmaster, an additive made by urol of Harlow, Essex (0279 )3) is claimed to prevent waxing e the ambient temperature drops to w -20°C with a one in 100 mix; to -20°C with a one in 2(X) mix; -9°C to -16°C with a mix of one 0. It is available in 205-litre barrels p per litre or in smaller 25 litre cans p per litre.

TE SCOTTISH Bus Group formed ew engineering subsidiary last year ich operates from six workshops Scotland, providing a complete aide engineering service to PSV commercial vehicle operators. Services include complete engine A. transmission overhauls, repair of Thanical and electrical units, fuel mp repair and callibration. and all ; skills associated with-coach ilding, coach painting and vehicle nversion. SBG Engineering (0319 1222) employs around 900 people d operate front Inverness,

rkcaldy, Edinburgh. Falkirk, otherwell and Kilmarnock. BETWEEN April I9/15 and the end of March_ this year, sonic! 43 major lane renewal and bridge maintenance schemes Will have been carried out on various points of Britain's motorway network. The latest major schedules for January arc listed below:

• M6. Lancashire, at Junction 35 (Carnforth) for 1k in Otitii January 25, only the left-hand lane of both carriageways will be open. Between 0900 and 10)0 Police may stop traffic for up to five minutes during nearby • blasting operations. Moderate to severe delays expected. (no working January 19).


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