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THE 1962 Lorry Driver of the Year Competition is officially under way. This year Birmingham was the eliminating centre which started the contest, a report appearing on page 570 of this issue. At this early stage, with one eliminator down and 16 still to go, it seems a very long way off to the moment at about 4 p.m. on Sunday. September 16, when the 1962 supreme champion is announced. By then, nearly 2,000 drivers will have pitted their skill against each other for the honour of trying to remove the British Motor Corporation's "Coventry Trophy" from the expert grasp of R.A.F. Corporal D. M. Readman, who won it so convincingly last September.
This year is a notable milestone for the competition, being the 10th anniversary of its inauguration on a very modest scale in Coventry. It has now grown to a record 17 eliminating centres and, with one or two exceptions, a truly national coverage; possibly the most encouraging facet of all is the patent eagerness of the organizers neither to stand still nor close their ears to advice. In short, this is a very good competition.
Yet, despite this, the fact remains that it is supported mainly by a comparatively few large operators and, apart from British Road Services, does not enjoy good support from hauliers. The fault lies with those operators who do not encourage their drivers to enter, not anywhere else, One of this year's centres--Woolwich, in London—has had such an overwhelming response that its contest is to be held on two days, instead of the customary one. Here is evidence of solid support from C-licensees and hauliers! If only that spirit could be extended. . . .
To the class winners at Birmingham and to all the contestants at the remaining centres, The Commercial Motor wishes good fortune. Those operators who are doubtful, or who think it is not worth supporting the contest, should think again—it is not too late to enter for most centres' eliminating rounds. Two thousand sounds a very good entry figure until it is placed beside the number of drivers employed to drive this country's very substantial goods vehicle fleet which, at the last count, was approaching 11m.
Don't Go It Alone
WITH the Common Market and Britain's entry into it, the next two years or so are likely to be as important as any in the history of transport. Even without the enormous significance of the European Economic Community, British hauliers and C-licensees will obviously become increasingly drawn into the international transport sphere. It therefore follows that they must take a stronger interest immediately in the problems involved in running a loaded vehicle or trailer to a Continental destination.
This type of work is basically something completely different from that met with in this country; so, on page 563 of this issue, begins a series of articles dealing with the myriad aspects of this form of operation. The author, who has had much experience of advising operators in this matter, utters two important warnings.
First, an extremely fluid situation exists in Europe today, so that any given set of rules is liable to be altered at a moment's notice. Second, it is vital that the average operator goes to his trade association for advice. The A.A., too, will give advice. Only constant experience of the problems can provide answers which would never occur to the man who thinks he can "go it alone" to the Continent.