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Things won't get better unless we
Page 22
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all do something THERE'S A GREAT saying that I firmly believe in. It goes something like: "If you do nothing. you will achieve nothing."
In the current climate as truckers we have a very difficult job to do (without taking the boss into account) particularly with the state of the roads.Traffic causes us no end of grief and car drivers really need to look at their attitude towards us.They cut us up, they nip round us when we find ourselves in a pickle which can require backing out onto a main road.they try and restrict where and when we can use the roads and so on and so forth — you all know how it is.
As ridiculous as it sounds, this is seen as part of the job. However nothing will change unless we make it.
As individuals it is obviously a nearly impossible task to make contact with those in power. However, as a group, things appear a little more optimistic.
Personally. I opted for the PDA. I saw an article in one of the industry magazines which included a contact number for Pat Nicholson and I gave her a call. To my surprise, everyone involved in the organisation is a driver trying to do something to make the profession a little bit easier for the rest of us.
Road safety is the big thing that everyone is talking about including the FDA, but with a realistic attitude that comes from actually spending time in the cab as opposed to being chauffeured around at public expense. If we all join groups like this it is possible that the people who make the decisions will hear us.
Alternatively, we could carry on bumping into each other at truck stops to complain to each other about the increasing amount of drivel that we are forced to work around.
That's not for me! I am 27 and I certainly don't expect to keep quiet while I pursue a career which is going downhill at an alarming rate. I have a trade in telecommunications behind me but I chose to drive trucks simply because I love it and I am not going to leave my chosen profession without a fight!
Richard Boyle Southampton