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Where are the goal posts again?
Page 68
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Even for the best operators the law sometimes changes too fast to handle. Sandy Bruce wonders when it will stop.
Ithought that this month I would share with you a small problem that presented itself with regard to drivers' ADR training. We have a policy of training all drivers and use a local training companyWe are aware that refresher training (three days) is required every live years and that failure to do so results in an expired driver's certificate with a full live-day course and examination to follow. What we were not aware of, however, is that the refresher course and examination must be completed not less than three months before the expiry of the existing certificate.
We had a driver whose certificate was due to expire in less than three months but despite the fact that a refresher course was available for him well before the expiry date we were required to send him on the full five-day course with the attendant costs for the course, wages etc.
We will all need to be aware of this for the future.
You will recall last month that! asked if we as a nation are "legislating ourselves out of business" and only this week I have had another frightening example.
New regs
We have a drive-through truck wash in our yard at Aberdeen that drains through an interceptor to a properly constructed soak-away From time to time the interceptor becomes full of the muck which we wash off the vehicles and needs to be pumped out.The sludge has for many years been disposed of by a local company for about £40 a tonne.
This week we called in our usual contractor to dispose of the sludge. We were stunned to find that,surprise,surprise,there are new regulations governing this disposal and the sludge would have to be sent to Devon, of all places—at a cost of £300 a tonne.
At the same time the waste company advised me that from later this year it expects new regulations governing the disposal of waste oil. For years we have used up waste oil in our heating system and this has all been done within the current regulations, which are correctly in place to ensure that such disposal is environmentally clean.
We cannot be certain if this will be the case and would be grateful if anyone can let us know if such regulations are on the way and,if so, when they are expected to take effect.Is there no end to this costly and seemingly wasteful legislation?
Keep it coming...
On a more cheerful note, I should like to express my thanks to all the CM readers who have been in contact with me since !started submitting these articles. Many call to share experiences; others to suggest topics which I might wish to include; and some call just for a chat on how business is prospering in our area.All these calls are very much appreciated and I hope they will continue. •