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KEEP THE DRIVERS HAPPY

19th April 1986, Page 48
19th April 1986
Page 48
Page 48, 19th April 1986 — KEEP THE DRIVERS HAPPY
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I would like to comment on the letter published in CM, April 5, by Cohn B. Sandiford.

Not so long ago you published a letter from me about the differences between British and Continental vehicles, and I was interested to note that nobody wrote during the following two weeks condemning what I had said. However, I did get a phone call from a fairly senior member of BL who was apparently concerned that the shoddy and unpleasant vehicle to which I referred was one of theirs.

In the past, it was the policy of the company for which I work to issue a form to any driver who was taking out a demonstration vehicle, which listed various aspects of handling, performance, visibility and comfort, on which he could express his opinions.

In all fairness, in the past, drivers' views on these matters were to some extent taken into account, but lately this does not appear to be the case, as our fleet of Volvos has now been infiltrated by examples of what is arguably the least acceptable of Britishmade vehicles, though ironically these have not proved to be as good as hoped for, though this has hardly come as a surprise to the driving staff.

Surely, one of the most important issues of running a successful company is to keep the drivers happy and contented. So the provision of vehicles that are comfortable and easy to drive seems to be patently obvious, especially if these same vehicles have proved to be extremely reliable as well.

Perhaps the remarkable success of Swedish vehicles in this country can be linked to the whole political set-up and work ethos in that country where management and workers share the same canteen and meet on christian name terms.

Where both drivers and operators are consulted on vehicle design, as opposed to the take it or leave it attitude prevalent here where even a clutch servo is considered to be an unnecessary luxury, an such obvious fitments as diff locks and heated mirrors are expensive extras.

Admittedly, it is difficult to see how the companies who assemble their vehicles from proprietary units can even make any real progress towards continental standani but surely BL could have don so given the will, though if till are eventually taken over by GM, this chance will surely b■ lost.

Eugene George Corke

London WI3

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Organisations: BL

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