Time for some sense
Page 2
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HE TIRADE of ill-informed comment which followed the ransport Secretary's 40 tonne announcement in the House of :ommons does nothing for the image of our parliamentarians. Vithin seconds of the announcement they were on their feet nalysing the White Paper in the most emotive language. The industry roust disabuse their critics of any notion that )rries damage roads. They do not. All vehicles cause road tear, not damage.
There is no-one who can say what wear a vehicle causes and ertainly not our MPs. Nor are there many who can ifferentiate between a 32 and a 40 tonne outfit.
Mr Albert Booth, the opposition transport spokesman, was noble to do so when we produced two vehicles at a onference last year.
The impression created by the anti-40 tonne lobby is that all 2 tonne vehicles will be replaced by 40 tonnes, they will not. ightweight high cubic capacity cargoes do not make 32 )nnes on a maximum capacity vehicle.
Palletised loads in containers are loaded to cubic capacity at 2 tonnes and without extra length they cannot add weight. Iperators will not buy extra weight they cannot use. Vehicles will only be half a metre (19.68in) longer if the cab is xtended say, to accommodate a bunk.
Transport operators and users must make these facts clear ) the nation. It is time some sense une into this debate. Vote lasing on such an important ;sue is both transparent and 3cile.