Where Will the Popular London Round Go Next Year?
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Bird's Eye View By The Hawk
THE Metropolitan and South Eastern area of the Road Haulage Association are running into some heavy weather over the site, or sites (there may be more than one) for next year's London eliminating contest of the Lorry Driver of the Year Competition.
Mr. R. Waite, this year's hon. secretary, has circularized operators who took part in the Croydon competition with a view to ascertaining the number of vehicles that may be offered, and already he has received over 200 positive participants, and the numbers are swelling every day.
Anticipating very heavy entries, there is an idea afoot to hold more than one eliminator, if this is allowed by the National Organizing Committee. Already a meeting has been held at area headquarters, and the organizers have set their sights on Regent's Park as a possible venue.
The meeting, by the way, agreed to a proposal that an appeal should be sent to the Ministry of Aviation about the preposterous charge for the use of Croydon airport.
Individuality
WHILST on the subject of Lorry Driver contests, I should
V mention that interest is so keen within the Metal Box group of companies, who operate some hundreds of vehicles, that they plan to hold a competition of their own, with eliminating rounds at their branches and a final.
Floating Asset
HEARD this week (and the teller of this tale assured me it is true) of an operator who took delivery of a van semitrailer built of aluminium alloy, who particularly wanted a waterproof job. He wasn't satisfied with the bodybuilder's usual tests for leaks, so decided to submerge the semi-trailer in a local river to really test it. This he duly did, and it is as well he had a tow-rope hitched on, because so tightly 'built was the body that it retained enough air to begin floating downstream.
At least, so I'm told!
Pber Reading
'ERY sober reading—that is my impression after looking at the latest copy of the Ministry of Labour's quarterly 3lication. "Accidents—How They Happen." It is not a iklet I have come across before, but I presume that this rent issue is representative of the contents printed in its predecessors.
le case histories are recorded of 30 accidents which were ified as causing death or injury. Most of the issue is oted to accidents which occurred during handling or during ransport operation. Some of the accidents involve rail, but fly arc directly the concern of road transport operators. ween 1934 and 1959, this publication reports, accidents 3ciated with non-rail transport have increased from 969 to 52.
ill For Care
kCTORY workers, says the Ministry of Labour, are now exposed to risks which did not formerly exist when road icks were smaller and fewer. It calls for care in factory 3ut, and in ordering vehicles that are of a suitable size to iceuvre in the available space.
:fficient maintenance of vehicles and equipment such as c-lift trucks is essential, states the booklet. I strongly suspect t the Ministry's remarks are directed at least as much to .ks vehicles as to true road vehicles, but the message is e the less apposite.
recommend everyone concerned to buy this Is. 3d. worth n H.M. Stationery Office. It provides much food for serious ught.