• Noting with some interest W Patterson's comments on the
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availability of driver training in respect of hours and tachographs rules (CM 27 June-3 July), 1 should like to make two observations.
Firstly, the Road Transport Industry Training Board has considerable knowledge and expertise in both of these fields and regularly conducts training courses for drivers at many of this country's best known transport operators. In addition, group training associations around the UK have offered short courses on drivers' hours and tachograph use for years.
Secondly, as your readers are aware, in April 1992 the RTITB will cease to have the statutory duty to raise a levy and return it to the haulage industry as training grant. However, as RTITB Services, a privatised commercial company, it will continue to offer training for hauliers both at training centres and at customers' premises.
Quality training for drivers in drivers' hours and tachograph use is and will continue to be widely available. As Mr Patterson himself indicates, we must look for other factors to explain why many hauliers choose not to avail themselves of it.
Andrew James Marketing Manager, RTITB.
Wembley, Middx.
Truckfest first aid
• Like many others, my family and I enjoyed an entertaining day at Truckfest South West.
Unfortunately, during a ride on the ghost train in the amusements section my nine-year-old daughter sustained a wound to her neck which needed first aid treatment.
My first thoughts were to locate the whereabouts of the on-site medical facilities. After asking six or seven exhibitors I was amazed to discover that not one of them knew where it was.
I then made my way to the CM stand and explained my dilemma. One of your team immediately consulted his colleagues to try and establish the information I needed. When that proved unsuccessful, a prompt announcement was issued over the PA system asking for anybody who could provide the answer to come forward. I'm happy to say that this action yielded the directions I needed and we were able to obtain the help my daughter required.
I would like to take this opportunity of expressing my sincere thanks to your colleagues who were in attendance at that time for the genuine kindness and concern that they demonstrated in addressing our predicament. A bag of Commercial Motor 'goodies' was put together and given to my daughter to help console her.
With regard to the apparent low profile of the medical centre itself, I have taken this issue up with the management of the venue who tell me that they rely on event organisers to disseminate this information to exhibitors. As the sponsors of the event, if there is any appropriate representation that CM could make to raise the profile of this vital support service at future events, it would be appreciated. Mike Shepherd Weston-Super-Mare, Avon. • You recently featured the lack of objections made by trade associations to new 0-licence applicants.
Despite a legal right to object, they never seem to do so. Perhaps they can explain why?
The whole system appears to be ridiculous. Anyone can see the loopholes in the current licensing system.
A haulier who, perhaps deliberately, uses other hauliers with no intention of paying them, can go into liquidation in one name and set up again doing the same thing again.
The licensing system is incapable of stopping this. It will only stop when we have legislation governing company directors.
The 0-licence system is, I believe, past its sell-by date. its only possible use, is to limit competition.
Don't suggest it's a quality system (we have tacho and C&U rules to keep lorries safe on our roads).
You don't need a licence to be an undertaker. You can look after dead bodies without a licence, but to run a lorry, you need one. The trade associations only want members.
They don't know if their members are operating legally — I doubt if many people who operate lorries can or do run 100% legal operations.
1111 Holmes Holmes of Heathrow Twickenham, Middx.
• Concerning your roadtest of the Mack Ultra-Liner (CM 11-17 July), If I were to go out and spend Z64,000 on a new truck, I would not only want the cab tilt pump on the correct side, but also the steering wheel and so on.
If Paul Maggs has bought this wagon as a working truck he may go abroad, in which case I would say everything would be on the correct side.
With regard to the cab steps, I think any wagon is strange for the first few times, but I very much doubt if a regular driver would have any trouble at all.
Personally, I can see from the photographs that I would not even use the steps — I would just put one foot on top of the tyre and then climb into the cab; getting out would be even quicker.
And I do not consider myself to be a typical trucker being four stone overweight and looking like I am six months pregnant! W Robinson Halifax, West Yorks.