Unlicensed farmers take hauliers' work
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C11/1 INVESTIGATION by Charles Young • Scottish hauliers are losing much-needed contracts to farmers and agricultural contractors who are illegally using tractors on hire-or-reward work without 0licences—some using red diesel.
Many hauliers say they have gone out of business due to this unfair competition: those who have lost contracts are failing in their bid to alert the authorities.
Last week CM visited the area around Perth to assess the extent of the problem. We found the roads clogged with agricultural tractors travelling as slowly as 15mph. Many were pulling converted semi-trailers and showed no 0-licences or trailer number plates.
In one instance we followed a tractor more than 15 miles to the Kirkforthar Potato Co near Perth. The tractor was displaying no 0-licence or number plates.
When we contacted Kirkforthar, director Daniel Robertson confirmed that he used contractors to harvest the produce. He said that as far as he knew some of them had 0-licences but some didn't. Asked if he minded employing unlicensed contractors, he added: "That's up to the contractors. We do use lorries for the sites which are up to 100 miles away, so we do give the hauliers business."
Hauling farm produce is popular as con tractors can hide behind a legal loophole. If they are stopped some say they've signed over ownership of the tractors to the merchants (see panel, right).
When CM asked a few contractors to deliver some bricks they confirmed that they were available for hire, but only for farm work.
Contractor, Forfarbased David Smeaton, pulls a converted semitrailer with his tractor for Nickerson Seed Specialists. A spokesman for Nickerson confirmed Smeaton works for the company without an 0-licence, saying it was only on short distances.
David Gibson, Vehicle Inspectorate area manager for south-east Scotland, says: "We've trained more officers in the area as we do have a duty to the legitimate haulier who's losing work—there's also the problem of identifying the user."
Aberfeldy haulier Bob Runciman of RD Rtmciman & Sons says: "There needs to be a Government ruling. It's a big difference without the road tax—and they're running on red diesel without 0licences. There's no way you can compete, and it seems they're getting away scot free." Tractors that don't need 0-Ikences
A tractor can be used without an 0-licence if it is hauling farming equip ment or articles required by the keeper.
Agricultural produce can be hauled up to 15 miles from the field to the farm by the farmer's own tractor. The Department of Transport is considering extending 0-licensing to tractors that travel on public roads between tw( parts of the same propee and exceed a distance of six miles a week.