ire grown up. His oldest reguis a 69-year-old who the
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npany calls on for week-long pa to Switzerland when it Ids extra cover.
Another operation that predates older drivers is lest Thorpe of Thergoland, ith Yorkshire. This 80-truck dness has one 00-year-old part-timer and two 65m-old full-timers on Its books, Director Ian Thorpe its he tries to give them middle distance jobs that ft require lots of uncoupling and loading.
Enjoyment, stimulation and an aversion to crown ion bowling, rather than economic pressures, are any what keep many older drivers from retiring. :er Holder, a 73-year-old self-employed tipper dri, from Portishead near Bristol works eight-hour fts every day and sees no reason to pack up. He has m running his business, Holder's Haulage, for 50 irs and has not had an accident since 1969.
He points out that annual medicals ensure he Is 'e to be on the road, adding: "I really don't feel my and don't feel like sitting in a chair reading the per all day." But Holder is realistic—three years ago agreed all runs of more than 100 miles would be idled by his son and business partner Andrew; "You re to start edging down a little," he concedes, The Transport and General Workers Union and the ted Road Transport Union insist the pressures of ring a truck means staff should be allowed to retire on a full pension at 60 rather than be encouraged to work on.
The T&G says, however, that stress often takes its toll on drivers health long before they reach retirement age; only 2% of those in a driving career are still going at 65. About 20% quit after failing their medical at 45, with "most leaving in their fifties", according to regional organiser Maurice Britten. "Ten years ago loads of drivers In their seventies were still working," he says. "But now the job is just too intense... It is too stressful and physical."
This view is echoed by Britton's counterpart at the URTU, regional officer Malcolm Williams: "We hear horror stories of drivers working a 70-hour week," he says. But he stresses the union is not against drivers continuing to work beyond retirement age—if they want to. "If the guy is healthy and working for a company that uses good equipment and reduces handling to a minimum, there should be no problem."
However, legislation to allow older drivers to demand the right to go on working past retirement age worries the Road Haulage Association. Its head of employment, Ruth Putt, fears that such a move could be "more of a hindrance than a help". She adds: If an older driver is not performing well it is better if they retire, particularly if their health is a cause for concern. To be able to compulsorily retire them from a management point of view is absolutely essential."