• COMMENT WIND OF CHANGE
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• John F Kennedy had the right idea when he said: "Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country".
It's no different with road haulage. If enough operators want to change things then the chances of succeeding are far greater than they might think.
Take the lost wheel "mystery". The battle to solve the problem was originally kicked off by the Institute of Road Transport Engineers who were not satisfied with the answers being trotted out by the manufacturers and other so called "experts".
Commercial Motor took up the same challenge last year when we launched our own wheel-loss campaign to raise funds to support further research into HGV wheel fixing standards. Operators of all sizes chipped in with donations that eventually exceeded £13,000. That money has been put to good use. There is now a draft list of wheel fixing standards that will shortly be put before the British Standards Committee for approval.
The message is clear. If you want something badly enough you will have to fight for it. That's why we're asking hauliers to support our latest "Say no to 50" campaign which is against the imposition of 50mph HGV speed limiter legislation proposed by the EC, If you don't want Brussels setting our national speed limits then write, or fax us now and say so. Better still send for a petition form so you can collect signatures from other operators.
In next week's CM we'll be including a special "Say no to 50" bumper sticker in every copy. Take it out, stick it on your truck where all can see and drive the message home. If you don't want Eurocrats telling you how to run your business then don't just sit there — do something!