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We refer to your leader (CM February 3). As an operator of goods vehicles and an extensive user of hauliers' services, we must challenge your recommendation to the Committee of Inquiry into Operators Licensing for the re-introduction of a strictly enforced proof of need licensing system.
The main reason for the introduction of 0 licensing was to improve the conditions of goods vehicles on the road and to raise the standard of goods vehicle operation. A study of the Licensing Authorities' annual reports, over the period since the introduction of 0-licensing, shows that there has been an improvement in the standard of maintenance of goods vehicles.
We would agree that there is a small minority of operators, the so-called cow-boys, who appear to
flout the 0-licence regulations. One method of improving the standard of these fly-by-night operators would be for the enforcement staff to concentrate their efforts on these doubtful operators.
As regards newcomers to the road haulage industry, the Goods Vehicle Operators (Qualifications) Regulation 1977, which became operative on January 1, 1978, placed additional obstacles in the way of newcomers and should weed out some of the less desirable elements trying to enter the industry. Licensing Authorities could also make more extensive use of their powers to grant short-term licences, thereby keeping newcomers under close scrutiny.
We accept that in the present economic climate hauliers are very concerned about their viability, but we would suggest that the reason some operators have gone out of business has more to do with the present economic situation, rather than with defects in the 0-licensing system.
In conclusion, we would suggest that the return of a capacity controlled licensing system with all its attendant bureaucracy is the last thing that either hauliers or their customers want.
R. A. OLIPHANT, Transport manager, Robert Hutchison & Co Ltd, Kirkcaldy.