P LETTER OF THE WEEK
Page 17
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Staying compliant with the changes in 0-licence laws can be a full-time job
RTHER TO your piece about the slump in 0-licence applications M4 June and 23 July) OLMC, as transport consultants who specialise it this area, have also been looking into understanding why this slump 1 occurring, and while we agree with the comments from Joan Williams f the Freight Transport Association and Jack Semple of the Road aulage Association, could there be more to it?
Yes, the 0-licence application and granting fees have gone up, but if you are applying for an 0-licence, would you necessarily remember what you paid before, and would that stop you from applying? Most of our customers say it wouldn't — if you need it for your business, then you need it. That's all there is to it.
The impression we get is that the changing laws and the lack of support in compliance is where the problem starts. Many potential operators find it so difficult to interpret the legislation in their efforts to comply that they get frightened.
This can also affect existing operators. Many licence holders find it difficult to keep abreast of the changes in legislation. Even though they want to stay legal, they often inadvertently fall foul of the law because of a lack of awareness of a piece of legislation.
Recently. OLMC received a Silver Business Link & Yorkshire Business Convention award, and our prize was a mentoring session with Channel 4's Undercover Boss Stephen Martin (pictured left), the CEO of Clugston Group. During a session at the company's Scunthorpe Logistics Site, even their fleet team mentioned that staying compliant with legislation is a huge consumer of resources.
There will always be rogue operators, and we wouldn't condemn attempts to keep them off our roads, but when some of our biggest and most professional operators say their biggest challenge is keeping abreast of changes in the law, we should look more closely at how we can help. Cart Myers Director and senior consultant OLMC