AT THE HEART OF THE ROAD TRANSPORT INDUSTRY.

Call our Sales Team on 0208 912 2120

Slamming back Steven Norris might well have a poor perception

18th June 1998, Page 34
18th June 1998
Page 34
Page 35
Page 34, 18th June 1998 — Slamming back Steven Norris might well have a poor perception
Close
Noticed an error?
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.

Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

of the haulage industry ("Owner-drivers slammed", CM 4-10 June), but if we had an organisation which did something about our problems and used a bit of clout—told the Government just how much of the financial burden they are placing on us all and make all foreign lorries pay for our roads—we would not need to take action.

The trouble is that we haven't got an organisation that cuts any ice. And when Mr Norris chooses to slag off owner-drivers he is picking on a minority.

I know my costs to the last penny and can negotiate a rate over the phone knowing I can make a profit.

But that profit would be far greater if Norris got off his backside, along with the other hypocrites who work for the Road Haulage and Freight Transport Associations, and did something about diesel costs and foreigners using our roads free of charge. Get your own house in order, Mr Norris, before you have a go at me. If all lorries were parked up for just one week, the public would then realise just how valued we should really be and you would be backing us, not slating us. Remember who pays your wages!

If you do continue to allow this to go on, and the foreigners build on their considerable advantage over us, bear in mind that we will go out of business and the RHA will not be required, so you will be out of work, the same as us. So wake up and do something before it is too late for us all.

I really don't know why Mr Norris was appointed to the job in the first place. Only a few months previously he was in a government that also condoned the continual rise in fuel duty Now he is director-general of the RHA, it's a bit like a shop steward of a company working in a managerial position. What chance have we got?

If Mr Norris reckons we need to be better organised, he obviously needs reminding that people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

If each foreign lorry was charged just £5 a day—there must be 15,000 journeys per week—that would be £75,000 per week or nearly £4m a year in extra revenue for the Treasury Wouldn't that make a nice change from taking money off your own people? Even a humble owner-driver can see that makes sense.

J Spires, JAS Eurohaul, Catford, London.


comments powered by Disqus