Licensing Problems Elucidated
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Changing a Licence from Class B to Class A.
(112) QUESTION We have recently been granted a Class B licence for discretionary tonnage, limited to 25 miles from the local Post Office. This is unsatisfactory and we would like to know whether it would be possible to change this licence to a Class A, as we are giving up our coal business and wish to operate only for hire and reward. What steps must be taken to effect this?
ANSWER: It will be a very difficult matter to change a Class B licence for a Class A. You will have to make a fresh application to the Licensing Authority, just as if you were applying for a new licence, because it is not merely a variation of your existing licence. You will, of course, on this application, state that you are already holding a Class B and that you wish to make the alteration because you are giving up the ancillary side of your business.
Paying for Two Vehicles When One is Used.
(113) QUESTION: I have applied for claimed tonnage for two 30-cwt. vehicles, but only one is at present in use. I received from the Licensing Authority a demand for 30s. for a Class A short-term administrative licence for 12 months, at 15s. per vehicle. Must I pay for both vehicles when only one is being used, and why is the licence for only one year? \
ANSWER: The short-term licence is, as explained by its name, purely for the convenience of administration, and will not affect the issue of a full-period licence on its expiry, except that you benefit, because once a licence has been granted there should be no difficulty in obtaining a new one.
If you wish to retain the right to operate your second vehicle it is necessary to pay the fees for the two, in the same way as a fee has to be paid for a hiring allowance, although a vehicle may not actually be hired. The only way to avoid paying is to apply for a variation of licence and for a reduction in your tonnage, but obviously this would be to your disadvantage when you wish to buy another vehicle.
1Dissatisfaction with a Class B Licence.
(114) QUESTION: I am a motor and cycle engineer in a country village, keeping a 30-cwt. lorry for hire. To cover it for my own use for the conveyance of crates of cycles, oil, accessories, or loads of firewood I applied for a Class B licence, but I see from Capt. Palmer's article in a recent issue that there is difficulty in getting such a licence suitable for my requirements. Do you consider that I should withdraw my application and apply for a Class A, or would it be too late to do so?
ANSWER: A Class B licence would enable you to do haulage for hire or reward, but you may be restricted to particular classes of goods and a certain area of operation. As a matter of fact, it would probably be more difficult for you to get a Class A licence than a Class B, and you must remember that the former is for the public carrier who deals only with loads for other people. Under such a licence your vehicle must not carry any goods in the course of any business with which you may be connected, although you would be permitted to utilize such a licence for the carrying of spare parts, oil, etc., but only those necessary for the maintenance of your business as a haulier,
A Carrier who Wishes to do a Little Haulage.
(115) QUESTION: I am about to buy a lorry, chiefly for my own business as a potato merchant. There are one or two people in the town who have asked me about carrying goods for them, as I was doing a few months ago when I was in partnership with another operator. There is not much outside loading, but it helps matters a little. Do you think I would have much difficulty in obtaining a B licence for such work, and must I obtain permission before buying the vehicle?
ANSWER: If you would be content to operate under a Class C licence and confine your carrying work to your business as a potato merchant, then you can purchase a vehicle at once, notifying the local Licensing Authority within one month of its purchase._ in order to carry goods for other people, even occasionally, you • must become a limited carrier and will require a Class B licence. In the latter case, it would be inadvisable to purchase a vehicle for this purpose until such a licence has been obtained, unless, in the event of it being refused, you would be content to operate under a Class C licence. You may have some difficulty in obtaining the Class B licence, particularly if you do so little haulage, as it is the endeavour of the Licensing Authorities to restrict haulage, so far as possible, to members of that industry.
,Controlling the Private Carrier.
(116) QUESTION: I operate under a Class C licence and should be glad to know if I am subject to the same regulations as to drivers' hours, wages, conditions of fitness, the keeping of records, times of commencing duty, etc., as is the ordinary haulage contractor. If so, is it possible to obtain a complete copy of the regulations? I have a copy of the 1930 Act, but am not familiar with the amendments, particularly with regard
to drivers' hours. If records must be kept, are the required forms supplied by the Ministry?
ANSWER: The Class C user is subject to the same regulations regarding drivers' hours, conditions of fitness and the keeping of records as in the case of the Class A and B holder, but not in respect of drivers' wages, whilst in certain cases the keeping of records may be dispensed with by reason of a special concession. There is not yet a complete copy of the regulations, although the Ministry has promised on many occasions that it would endeavour to have one prepared.
Details of the records required were published in The Commercial Motor dated July 13 last. The forms must
• be obtained from an outside source; they are not supplied by the Ministry. n25