THE SILENT MAJORITY?
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So why didn't Longcliffe's subbies object? Presumably they stand to lose as much from the ban as Longcliffe. Maybe they were too busy working to do it. The pressure to compete in road haulage often pushes things into the background. Or maybe they were put off by the thought of having to get involved with all the red tape of formally objecting. Or perhaps, like so many road hauliers, they have become so cynical about the local authority opinion that they decided to keep their heads well below the parapet. Who could blame them? Whatever their reasons, they missed a golden opportunity simply to stand up and be counted. Here was a chance to say "look, We provide a valuable service to local industry, we employ local people and we spend money in the local economy. All that could be in jeopardy if you slap on a weight limit. What's more a ban could send our trucks through other equally-sensitive areas. So think of the long-term consequences— before you make us drive along a different road."
Had its subcontractors all objected who knows what might have happened? Commercial Motor is regularly asked why we aren't doing more to defend the industry? The simple answer is "because it's not our job", or to be precise—it's not our job alone. But whenever CM has the opportunity we do speak up for road transport. The people who should be (and are) standing up for the industries are the trade associations. But with less than 30% of all 0licence holders actually belonging to one they don't even have a mandate to campaign on behalf of the "silent majority". If more operators joined the FTA or RHA then the bargaining power of both would be increased, whether at Government level or arguing the toss with local councils on lorry bans.
So where does that leave us? The answer is at grass roots level. If you aren't prepared to join the Fight then you won't have the right to moan about hauliers not being represented. Equally if hauliers aren't willing to fight against local weight limits, parking bans, pressure groups, or anything that threatens their livelihoods, they shouldn't be surprised if the big bad world rolls over them while they wait for someone else to fight their battles. If you can't stand up and be counted, at least make as much noise as you can lying down.