FIGHT BACK
Page 40
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• I would like to comment on GH Deakin's letter (CM 28 March-3 April) which would appear to be casting doubt on Mike Pickering's ability to do anything for and with the owner-operator.
I am a member of Owner Operators UK and at Commercial Motor Truckfest last year I asked founder Rob McHugh what action 00UK would be taking to lobby Parliament, the Department of Trade, the Department of Transport and the Confederation of British Industry in getting the agreed EC Tarrif Rate implemented.
Mr McHugh explained that 00UK was not very political; it preferred to concentrate on providing a service for the small operator.
Subsequent to this I have written to the following organisations requesting that they supply me with copies of any letters they have sent to the Government specifically dealing with the low rate. The response so far: 00UK Replied Road Haulage Association No reply Freight Transport Association No reply United National International Transport (1991) Replied Mr Pickering supplied me with a folder of letters sent to Government departments, all dealing with the low rate and written in the interest of the owner-driver.
Since then I have spoken with him on the phone and I have found him to be a realist about the difficulties in overcoming the vested interests between transport and industry; he, like me, believes it can be done. That belief does not stem from any militant vision of barrages or blockades, it comes from men of vision who first contemplated a Common European Market. Men like myself and Mike Pickering, and many more one-man bands, feel it is time for our industry to follow that ideal.
C Kinsella, Ely. Cambs.