300 delegates already registere( for FMC have youl
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Recognised as the premier road transport conference, FMC is again attracting transport men from throughout the industn at home and abroad
CM's 1982 Fleet Management Conference has already attracted 300 registrations. It takes place on October 14 at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, London. This is a long-established event in the transport calendar and is attended by haulage and own account operators, manufacturers, suppliers, insurers and indeed, every sector of the road transport industry.
Brian Rigby, a deputy director-general at the Confederation of British Industry, will open the proceedings, which will be under the chairmanship of Sir Peter Masefield.
The views of the CBI, on ransport matters, do not always coincide with those Of transport operators, and Mr Rigby can be expected to get the conference off to a stimulating start.
The first main paper will be presented by Hugh Featherstone, directorgeneral of the Freight Transport Association and, he MA's controller of planning and traffic services, Richard Turner. Both gentlemen are well qualified to discuss the case of the transport user and have done so before many distinguished audiences at home and abroad.
At the FMC they will be concentrating their presentation on lorry bans and other restrictions which impair efficiency in distribution. This is a matter which concerns not only users and suppliers of transport but everyone from manufacturer to consumer. The presentation is certain to raise many issues — on the environment, economics and politics. . at both national and local level.
Following a break for coffee, R. D. Yeomans, managing director of Wincanton Transport, takes up another theme "Tachographs — tool or toy?" Wincanton is not only user of tachographs but it also operates calibration stations. Therefore the company sees the instrument from both commercial and operational viewpoints.
After more than a year's experience, how does Wincanton value the tachograph? We discussed the subject with Yeomans. He has firm views based on experience and supported by carefully documented records, What he told us encouraged us to believe that his presentation will give rise to a lively debate and could change many entrenched opinions.
The Employment Bill will be enacted before the conference. It has been well debated in Parliament and strongly attacked by the trade union movement. GrevilleJanner, QC, MP, has participated in the House of Commons debates; he has also spoken in the country and written many thousands of words on the subject.
At the FMC, Mr „tanner will analyse the content of the Act in his own inimitable ner; he is a lively and interesting speaker. While delegates may not agree with his views, he is prepared to enter into debate.
David Howell, Transport Secretary, is coming direct from a Cabinet meeting to address the delegates after lunch. Mr Howell has already shown himself to be a lively and industrious minister. He has not been over-exposed to the transport community. "His digestive" should set the pace for the afternoon session.
The director-general of th Road Haulage Association, Freddie Plaskett, will preset his relatively new view of tf "Future of road transport and the RHA". Mr Plaskett will have been with the RI-IA only 12 months when he speaks at FMC, but even no his name is a household word in the industry.
He presents a discussion paper in a very forthright manner, but seasoned with fine sense of humour. His• plans to reorganise the RNA and put it on a slimming die have met with opposition. By the logic of his argurnen. he has persuaded his opponents to accept his plans. What lies ahead, w will learn at FMC.
Operators enjoy the opportunity to meet the vehicle manufacturers. Delegates will have this opportunity at the FMC
when a five-man panel willintroduce their subject in five-minute papers and the take questions. Peter rSieVit (Ford) will chair this sessior
in which R. Wilsdon (Cummins), K. Parmee (Eaton Transmissions), Bill Johnson INorde) and Dr B. X Jarrett (Lucas) will participate.
The greatest value ot the FMC has always been the involvement of delegates. This year's programme is again designed to encourage lively, informed discussion.
Those who register will receive the papers in advance and a preconference question form which invites questions in advance. This helps overcome the embarrassment that many feel at question time, and would otherwise lead to many important questions being left unasked.
The registration fee has been contained at £45 exclusive of vat. The fee includes entitlement to coffee, cocktails, lunch, afternoon tea and conference papers. The RTITB has accepted the programme for training grant for those in-scope.
Fees should not be sent with the registration form. We will issue a vat invoice. Fees will not be refunded for cancellations made after the papers-have been issued.