1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136 
I EDITOR'S COMMENT
Page 5
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
QUALITY CONTROL
• The latest cry for stricter controls on access into the haulage industry sounds rather like a cracked record. Of course, outgoing RHA chairman Roy Bowles is right to want measures that keep illegal operators off the streets but is nailing the door shut really going to prevent dodgy hauliers breaking the law? There is no point in setting a high entry standard for the industry if little is done to check that hauliers keep to those standards.
The only thing that will really deter the so-called cowboy haulier is the knowledge that every step he takes is being watched and that every indiscretion will be noted.
If a few more licences were revoked each year, then operators tempted to stray from the straight and narrow would know that the punishment for ignoring the law would be loss of livelihood, rather than a rebuke from the LA and a second chance.
There are hundreds of would-be hauliers out there who have the potential to make a positive contribution to the industry. The last thing they need is to have the goal posts moved out of their reach. It is also ironic that while we are all so worried about standards, the people who actually enforce those standards are warning of administrative changes that could blunt their effectiveness.
According to the National Union of Civil & Public Servants the proposed plan to merge vehicle and traffic examiners would lead to lower enforcement standards. Being at the sharp end they should know.
The NUCPS predicts that if the merger does go ahead it will end up stopping every vehicle in an area, rather than targeting the law breakers. This would certainly be good for the public image of road transport as enforcement statistics would at last include the majority of law abiding operators who currently aren't being stopped at roadside checks. But it would obviously inconvenience them into the bargain, and reduce the impact on the cowboys.
If we want to maintain the operating quality within the industry then by all means set a high standard to enter the business. But then make it harder to stay in it. That way quality will take care of itself.