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befiet itittobtg
Page 93
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Every week we read of some company in front of the LA for some reason or another. In some cases the matter is not too serious but in other the familiar cry of "too much legislation" is heard. At least two operators are ceasing to trade, on the pretext of so-called "rule book overload" Others, it would appear, refer to the ever-increasing 'legislation, particularly the much-publicised CPC, as the thin end of a "Police State" wedge.
It is a pity that those I refer to did not see the writing on the wall. Burying their heads in the sand, they forget to take CM with them, and by so doing, miss all the helpful articles on maintenance, legislation and training, all of which might have assisted them to become fit and proper, people to operate in the road haulage industry.
Fload haulage, as I see it, has rapidly become a proficient industry. Astute companies within the industry have recognised the need for training, in order to provide skilled and qualified personnel as an asset toward efficient everyday running of a business, Companies now advertise for staff with set qualifications, not as a whim or fancy, but as a means of improving their particular organisation. It all adds up to the making of a better industry.
To quote "Police Run State" from S. Wales (CM April 14). "No longer will the man in the street be able to start•off in the haulage business without first passing extremely difficult exams, which I might add, the existing managers need not bothPr to sit".
This is not so in my opinion. A group of us attended an RTITB course at MOTEC, Shropshre; nearly all of us passed the RSA exam for CPC. We were all from different walks of life and academic standing. Most of the entrants came from national and private companies with a small percentage from private individuals.
So it would seem that not only the large haulier sends its staff to RTITB but also the private individual, who has recognised the need to learn from the experts. The so-called difficult exam set by the RSA was made easier through training. I might add that some of us on the course had the CPC by grandfather rights.
The course itself gave us an insight into business, law and legislation so that we could differentiate between good operators and bad. It is only a 'pity that present traffic managers were not made to sit the exam. As far as I can see, let those that are interested, work in road haulage, and those that knock the current legislation look for other employment.
I am sure that those that sat the•course with me (and I was a private entrant) will agree that we can do without the rule-of-thumb merchant and hopefully will end up with the correct people for the right job in our industry.
Before anyone jumps to conclusions, I started work in road haulage, like many at the bottom, as an apprentice hgv fitter some 20 years ago and not, as it may appear, a college person with academic achievements.
Let us keep the good firms and get rid of the cowboys.
R. a MAR KWICK, Manchester.