Warning to 'lunatic fringe'
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AWARNING to the "lunatic fringe" in the commercial transport industry was given by Mr. C. E. Humphrey, the area mechnical engineer for the Northern traffic area, when he addressed a packed meeting at Whitehaven last week. By 1970, he said, the advent of nation-wide testing stations for goods vehicles would mean that the bad and indifferent operators would not be able to "escape the net".
The stations were proposed to be in operation initially by about 1968, and by 1970 all goods vehicles would be tested annually. There were five stations planned in the Northern region.
"A lot of people are going to be in serious trouble—make sure you are not involved in the forthcoming fiasco", Mr. Humphrey warned West Cumberland road hauliers and commercial traders who were attending the meeting called by the regional Maintenance Advisory Committee.
Referring to "blitz checks" and the high rate of vehicles which were passed unfit for the road, he stressed: "It is in your own interest to set up a realistic maintenance scheme.
"Nobody can be complacent about the state of goods vehicles in this or any other area—they are all fairly bad".
Admittedly, he went on, there was a shortage of skilled maintenance staff everywhere. There was a lot of substance in this argument, but it was no real excuse.
Even the most rudimentary maintenance system, Mr. Humphrey pointed out, would eliminate at least 75 per cent. of GV9's.
Chairman of the meeting, Mr. Harry Pickthall, the Cleator Moor haulage contractor, commented: "We are trying to speed up our schedules and it is in our own interests that we maintain our vehicles in tip-top condition."
The number of operators who had been
suspended and had licences revoked was excessive, he said, adding that although the industry always seemed to be crippled by hew legislation and restrictions it was up to the traders to try and do far better.
In a questions session, Mr. Pickthall complained of the shortage of spare parts and the scarcity of new vehicles, declaring: "It is about time the Ministry of Transport did something to see that the operators get the type of vehicles they require within a reasonable period instead of having to place orders two years ahead."
Mr. Humphrey: "Let us know of any particular difficulties and we will do all we can for you."
Asked what steps the committee would take when operators found defects in their vehicles, Mr. Humphrey said there would be a thorough investigation of similar vehicles in all traffic areas and the faults drawn to the attention of the manufacturers.