Grab cowboy trucks say hauliers
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• UK hauliers want police and enforcement agencies to be empowered to impound trucks they find running without tax discs or 0-licences. And nearly 50% would be happy to pay for tougher enforcement by accepting the Government's proposal for an extra £100 towards the 0licence fee, according to an exclusive Commercial Motor survey. More than 75% of the hauliers questioned want trucks to be impounded for offences including unlicensed drivers: 18% rejected the idea and 6% were not sure.
A total of 40% would be happy to accept the Government's proposal to increase the 0-licence fee from £70 to £170 — as long as the money was spent on such enforcement. Only 2% rejected the increase; 58% said they did not know.
Many hauliers thought impounding would be most effective against persistent offenders, but that a warning, perhaps with a fine, should be given for a first offence. Reactions ranged from "that's a bit drastic" to "offenders should be locked up in the Tower of London".
Views varied on the time that impounded trucks should be held for. Some said three months; others said they should never be returned. The general consenus was for a tough two to five years.
The industry seems to be divided over the strength of enforcement: 44% said they were satisfied with current enforcement levels; 50% were not and 6% did not know. That also applied to roadside checks — 44% wanted more; 50% did not and 6% declined to comment. Several respondents suggested more checks in depots which would avoid hold-ups on the road, and many believed that police should check the legality of trucks which litter major in dustrial estates at weekends. But most hauliers were statisfied that police, the Vehicle Inspectorate and Customs & Excise treated them fairly: only 24% could think of an example of unfair treatment.
There were examples of apparent inconsistencies. Inspectors in the eastern region, for example, were said to draw lines across tacho charts at the start and end of a shift, which could lead to drivers being told off in another area for defacing their charts.
More than 60% wanted extra money to put towards more specially trained LGV enforcement officers; only 32% said enough is spent on this area.
Opinions on increasing 0licence fees to pay for more trained officers ranged from "it's a diabolical liberty," to "I suppose we'd have to take it on the chin". One operator said it would be acceptable if it was a one-off fee and linked with a continuous licensing system.
A majority of 58% said that continuous 0-licensing would relieve the administrative burden on operators applying for licenses, but the same proportion feared it could stop rogue operators being weeded out. One pointed out that a company can change "an awful lot" in five years.
Most hauliers, 70%, felt that the current system of applying for a licence is fair.