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• You don't need Mc Al, NOP or Gollup to tell yuu that most hc.tuNets hove neve' heard of John MacGregor. But they will, because he's the new Secretary of State for Transport and as such is the man who directly controls their destiny. His progtess through the cutriduis of power has been steady rather than meteoric. A Treasury man at het, he hus also sel ved his time at the Ministries of Agricultute and Education befuie becoming the leader of the Fiut.te of C.Onithcni5.
But what does he know about transport? Heuven only knows — but presumubly he wouldn't be getting his cabinet minister s salary of E63,047 if he didn't show some flair for the job.
Whatever talents he brings to bear, huvvet,,r, road transport is not likely to be high up on his agenda, even though he will be responsible for implementing the Tories manifesto pledge to invest i:6,300m over the next three years on the country's trunk roads and motorway network.
In any case, here are a few suggestions for Mr MacGregor to ponder while he's getting his feet under the table.
For a start he could end the UK's ridiculous derogation from 40 tonnes and allow huuliers to compete on equal terms with their Continental counterparts. Then he could stop the DTp wasting everybody's time by coming up with illogical rules on bogie weights, roadfriendly suspension and any other little ideas that come to mind.
And for good measure, he might think about laden LGV training and testing, weight allowances for retarders, more 24-hour self-weigh dynamic weighbridges, tougher enforcement on cowboy operators, and impounding of illegal operators' vehicles.
Do that little lot, Mr MacGregor, and every haulier will know your nume.