Probation plan for
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• A new selective membership procedure is being considered by the Road Haulage Association in a bid to keep out "cowboy" operators.
A meeting of district managers, planned for next week, will discuss the move. Before retiring, former director general of the RHA Freddie Plaskett called for a selective membership policy within the RIIA and suggested the British Standards Institute mark BS5750 be used as a benchmark.
The RHA south eastern district has initiated a local policy which excludes hauliers operating from council lorry parks iron) membership. This policy is now under consideration by the RHA National Council and inay be adopted as national policy.
The south eastern district says: "This has grown out of grass roots membership pressures in the London area. It shows a hardening of attitudes by existing operators to cowboy elements."
There have also been calls for a probation period for new RHA members.
Jack Russell, chairman of the Essex RHA sub-district which has 250 member companies and managing director of Jack Russell Transport says he believes the association should adopt a national selective membership policy: "Speaking as a haulier, I believe in quality not quantity. I would like to see new members completing a one year probation before being allowed into the RHA. They should also have the recommendation of two existing members before seeking membership.
"The RHA must strike out against those who run illegal operations. I believe Essex members would support a probation scheme 100% and I would like to see other districts supporting the South Eastern policy. Of course membership fees would have to rise if a selective policy was pursued, but most hauliers would be prepared to pay a few pennies more for a stronger membership. After all, the RHA is only as good as its members," Russell says.
Other RHA districts have expressed concern over mem