DOMINRIONT USELESS
Page 36
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• Great pictures of trains and the countryside haven't changed much in 40 years. And really that sums up the total effect that Night Moves this much talked about, company sponsored, trucking programme had.
What a shame, that to promote the good side of the industry, all they could show was the drivers' talents for eating, drinking and being entertained and a cafe owner supplying chips with everything.
Where was the showing of the rigours of the HGV test, the driving skills involved in delivering in town or down a Welsh mountain track with a 12 metre trailer, or the abnormal load with bogey driver at the dirty end, or the maintenance and daily checks ritual and the general understanding of the tacho regulations and associated laws — all 2000 odd? Where were the old hands giving advice and assistance to the new HGV holder, the friendliness and camaraderie between drivers and trucking clubs working for charities? Why were there no pictures of rope and sheeting, hand ball loads, or discussion with drivers about road design, business operations, vehicle configuration, truck stops, no promotion of the thinking, technically minded trucker doing a job he enjoys?
If I was paying out as the companies did, I would have wanted much more shown of the day to day problems encountered and solved within transport, of putting a good light on the drivers' capabilities, achievements and skills, showing care and concern for the industry — related to the public we serve, It was as much help to trucking as the RHA and FTA put together.
Yet again our industry has failed to realise the untapped source of information, ideas and know-how that the workers can supply. This film was made by the bosses for the bosses and did nothing for image, except compound Joe Public's idea that all we eat is chips, all we do is sit about and all we drink is beer.
The civil servants and teachers are striking for more pay but because of the individual nature of the job and the driver, we willingly work longer hours with more responsibility and regulations for the same pay because we enjoy our work. We do not "switch off" during rest periods — day or night — for reasons as varied as security, the weather and holiday traffic. There is no other high stress job so rigidly bound by regulations.
As a PR film of the industry it was a FLOP.
As a film "telling 'em like it is" it was a FLOP.
As an inconsequential stopgap before the news it was FAIR.
This film said nothing, proved nothing and nothing is the best said about it.
Val Agombar.
Member of East Coast Truckers (Newsletter Editor and Press secretary)
Member of Lady Truckers Club (Area co-ordinator) Old Calton Norwich