DEAR
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• I am a regular reader of Commercial Motor and I am hoping to set up my own business as an owner-driver in the near future.
I wondered if you had the address of where I should apply for my operating licence, and also any relevant information which might be of help? Matthew HoIlyoak, Dyfed, Wales.
Apply for your operating licence with your local traffic area office at Caradog House, 1-6 St Andrews Place, Cardiff CFI 3PW, tel. (0222) 394027 or telex: 49701. The name of your Licensing Authority is John Mervyn Pugh.
Contact the National Owner Drivers' Association for relevant information on (0933) 76384 or your local Road Haulage Association office on (0272) 503600. They should both be able to supply helpful advice on starting up in the road haulage business. Ed.
MEDICAL PROBLEM IN I have been a diabetic for just over six years (insulin dependent) and have had no medical problems concerning my diabetes for the past 41/2 years. My doctor has given me a clean bill of health and in his opinion sees no reason why I cannot hold an HGV 3 licence.
The company I work for is prepared to pay for the licence and test, so that I would be able to cover for the other driver during illness or holidays, therefore only acting as a relief driver.
At the moment, I can only drive the company's Ford Cargo under a normal driving licence, which has to be renewed every three years (the longest they will issue it to diabetics) after a medical checkup by my doctor. The licencing authority will accept his word for an ordinary licence but not an HGV — why?
My interpretation of the notes with an HGV licence application form is that some diabetics would be issued a licence depending on the outcome of a medical. I was totally refused. When I asked why I was turned down, 1 was sent back a standard letter. I wrote again asking if I could appeal, but again received the same standard letter.
An HGV licence is something I have always wanted, but I was never able to afford the lessons. Now I work for a good company which wants to help me, but doesn't know how. N Jones, Chester.
AMBLING AMBULANCE • A few years ago your magazine very kindly printed in your correspondence column my appeal for information on how I might increase the road speed of my Perkins 4-236 powered 1967 Karrier ambulance/ caravanette. As a result of this I was able to acquire and fit a 3.9:1 differential which had the required effect.
After several years of giving IS I write in reply to your article "No to Speed Limiters" (CM 27 July-2 August).
Why do politicians and the authorities seem to be on a "witch hunt" against the commercial industry?
In the article, politicians are asking for speed limiters to be fitted to lorries. Surely you should look first at the bus and coaches, winch are permitted to travel at 70mph; use the third lane of the motorway, and are carrying passengers, sometimes as many as 80.
When talking about lorries hogging the motorway, surely you should first teach car drivers to use the motorway properly, as at least as an HGV great pleasure, this vehicle hag unfortunately been destroyed by fire. I have obtained as a replacement a 1968 Austin LL) ambulance which was fitted with a BMC 2.2-litre petrol engine (the old Austin "16" dating from 1939). I have replaced this with a BMC 2.2-litre diesel engine but am now faced again with the problem of low maximum speed. With the present gearing the maximum is about 50mph, downhill in following hurricane, but for practical purposes it is really only just over 40mph. If any of your readers could suggest or offer a fivespeed gearbox, overdrive unit or alternative rear axle I would be most grateful to hear from them.
Chas Miller, The Radiophile, Stafford.
learner, you are permitted to use the motorway. Have you ever seen a lorry trying to overtake a car stuck in the middle lane doing 50mph and won't move over? The lorry driver flashes his lights — and the idiot in the car thinks he is being clever by putting on his brakes.
My last comment is directed at buses. They are permitted to belch out black diesel smoke, with the authorities seemingly turning a blind eye, if this was a lorry, it would be stopped and possibly issued a GV9.
What's fair for lorries is fair for coaches and buses!
M Coker M.I.DIAG.E.,A.I.R.T.E. London SEI4.