We take up you views
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THIS will be an important year in road transport_ There will be two changes to our drivers hours regulations before the end of December.
Under pressure from Brussels and the pressure of the enforced 450km rule, operators will require to face up to the tachograph issue. It may even be that they will require to test the strength of the Transport and General Workers' Union on the issue.
The TGWU will have a new man at the driving wheel; a new relationship will need to be forged. There could even be a new administration at Whitehall before December 31.
The I 2-part questionnaire that follows poses some pertinent questions which we direbt to operators, trade union officials, drivers, MPs and prospective MPs.
We invite readers to reply to the questions; post them to y MPs, your staff and the lc trade union official.
We promise to analyse thE print the analysis in CM E send a certified copy to both Minister of Transport and als4 the Shadow Minister of Tra port.
THE liberal licensing system proposed by the Opposition in its "White Paper" is already causing disquiet. In the opinion of many we already have too liberal a system, and established goods vehicle operators are concerned at the ease with which 0 licences are granted. What system would you introduce to change this attitude? Would you consider a return to the pre-1968 "proof of need" approach?
ACCEPTING, that the environment must be protected and at the same time consumer demands must be met, what are your views on lorry routes, transfer terminals and security parking places out of town? What if anything would you or your party do to assist in the establishment and development of such projects? WHAT is your view on power to weight rati bearing in mind that this has a direct relationship with the lorry nuisance imagc held by some sections of the community?
D0 you or your party accept European harmonisation on all transport matters? If ni which do you disagree with and why?
THERE have been lengthy discussions over a number of years on gross vehicle weights a axle weights. Will you or your party suppori move to, say, 40 tonnes gvw and an 11-tonne ax weight? E are now in another and final period of exemption from EEC drivers' hours regulations. Would you press for their iplementation?
%SSUMING the British Government finds itself answering charges at Luxembourg that we had failed to implement European law, how rould you plead and what evidence would you Ffer in mitigation?
THE tachograph issue is now causing serious embarrassment to many operators engaged on international journeys. On the principle that any laws are not always totally acceptable but tust be obeyed and in keeping with popular pinion that the law must be observed, where do ou or your party stand on the tachograph issue? WHAT future do you see for the Conservative Party proposal that private companies and NFC should engage in joint ventures, bearing in mind that apart from a few notable examples the road transport industry has been opposed to co-operative working?
THE Conservative Party "White Paper" on transport promises to explore the possibility of making more international haulage permits available. The industry is known to want the system abolished. Is this your view?
ARE Traffic Commissioners and Licensing Authorities serving a useful function, should their role be abolished, or could it be improved and if so how?