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Cowboys face the last round-up...
Page 12
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Impounding is finally here, and most in the industry have welcomed it.
But what will it really mean for the average road haulier? Lucia Cockcroft looks at its likely impact, and asks transport insiders for their predictions.
• Impounding was finally ushered in by Transport Minister John Speller last Friday The trade organisations and transport groups are unanimous in welcoming the government's latest attempt to crack down on the bad boys of road haulage, and the aim is unambiguous: to target "a small core of operators" working outside the law.
Just how many people this "small core" of illegal operators really amounts to is anyone's guess, but estimates point to around 2% of HGVs on the UK's roads, equating to some 8,000 trucks. Road safety is one issue impounding promises to address, with hopes that many unroadworthy and badlymaintained vehicles will be forced off the roads.
It is hoped that another major concern—that legal operators are being undercut by illegal ones—will also be addressed by impounding, Illegal operators avoid the 2400-plus fee for an 0-licence; they also dodge the vetting and review of their operating centres by Traffic Commissioners, who also check that an applicant is fit to hold a licence with proper maintenance facilities and sufficient finance to keep vehicles roadworthy. Illegal operators work outside this strict regime. Road safety groups, trade associations and hauliers have been pressing for impounding legislation for some time, with the only note of discontent sounded by truck rental firms concerned about the extra responsibility that will come with ensuring that all hirers have valid 0-licences.
Launching the scheme, Speller said: "Along with Sweden, we have the safest roads in Europe. Not only do we intend to keep it that way, we also intend to improve. This is another step in that direction.
"The industry has been complaining about this [unlicensed operators] and we are taking action on it, ! expect that the [the legitimate hauliers] w want to draw our attention t those who are operating ilk gaily and actually providin unfair competition to the legiti mate industry.
"This legislation is an addi tional strength to the enforce ment authorities, so the messagE that will be going out to the roac haulage industry is that if you dc not comply, get off the road."