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Changing times
Page 3
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The publication of the annual Traffic Commissioners report [see page 10] is always a barometer for the road transport industry and this year the Senior Traffic Commissioner Philip Brown is right to reflect on changing times for all.
We cannot help but agree with Brown when he says that "significant change is never a comfortable experience for those who are affected, either directly or indirectly".
After all, what has 2009 been for hauliers other than a year of immense change given the state of the economy?
Yet throughout all this change, there remains the need for an operator licensing regulatory regime that works as efficiently as possible, and in the best interests of road safety and fair competition, and is entirely independent of the Department for Transport and VOSA.
It is also rather heartening to hear that the TCs are reporting an increase in the number of public inquires in the past year: not that we are being buoyed by on Britain's road, but that more rogue operators are being caught on Britain's roads.
Talk of modernisation is inescapable, no matter what type of work you are in, Out without doing the basics above and beyond the traditional standards, pushing through change would be entirely pointless. Here's to more of the same.
• Don't forget to take part in our Trucking Britain Out Of Recession initiative. Log on to www. roadtransportcom/britain Christopher Walton