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10th June 1999, Page 50
10th June 1999
Page 50
Page 50, 10th June 1999 — ROUND Oii. ,,
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Allan Bennett of MV Trucks says hauliers are not the only ones put at risk by government policy: dealers, manufacturers, even bankers could be driven to the wall • If you want to sound off about a road transport issue write to features editor Pat Cumana or fax your views (up to 600 words) to mc&yCIlceon GM 052 111112.

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company to his views on the futility of any form of protest over the current diesel price situation on the basis that "no one ever listens to those whinging haulage operators", l am moved to two observations.

Firstly and fundamentally, the escalating price of fuel and, perhaps more importantly, the gross inconsistencies in fuel and vehicle duty across Europe, is not only a haulage operator problem but a real and present threat to the entire road transport industry. And that includes truck manufacturers and their dealers, together with everyone else who is in some way involved in supporting those firms which operate the vehicles.

All these suppliers would do well to consider the possibility of an industry where certain of their customers may at best see fit to move their operations away from this country and at worst simply cease trading altogether. Who, may I ask, will buy trucks—new and used—and who will rent trucks? Who will book trucks into the workshop and buy spare parts? Who will buy trailers and bodywork? And when all these capital purchases dry up, who are the banks and finance companies going to lend their money to?

There is in this Industry an unbelievable arrogance within the "support cast" whereby there are people who do not see this as their problem, and see no reason for becoming involved in any of the campaigns. I cannot believe that people can be so blinkered and short-sighted.

At the risk of repeating myself, this is as much my problem as anyone else's, and !for one am very, very concerned about the seriousness of the implications it presents.

My second point is that talk is cheap. No amount of pontificating and writing magazine articles is going to make the people who are supposed to be running this country take any action to help matters. This has become evident over the past few months as each attempt to initiate some form of serious review of our industry's plight has been given the brush off by members of a government which seems so totally uninterested as to be almost intent on punishing our truckers further.

The general public in this country are completely unaware of the extent to which they rely on goods vehicles, and in fact probably do not care too much so long as their daily needs are catered for. These same members of the public, however, are the people who decide who should run our country.

And unless their awareness of the unfair nature of our business together with all that may mean in terms of the threat to supplies and prices of goods on the shelf is increased, then nothing is likely to change.

That is why my company has joined Trans-Action, and that is why, despite criticism from some of my peers, I have seen fit to send vehicles into London to be seen as part of the campaign.

I am very well aware that there are those who think that my actions are futile and wasteful. But until someone can come up with a better way of publicising the problem I will continue to support my friends and customers in the only way loan. The question is, what are the rest of the truck dealers and manufacturers doing about it? Because so far, with a few notable exceptions, all I see is truck operators trying to save their own skins, with very little support from anyone else.

Remember, this problem will not simply disappear—but your customers might!

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