YES, THE INDUSTRY IS RACIST Re your article Is our
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industry racist?" (CM 22-28 Feb); there is no need to ask the question: it is a fact. tam an Asian and passed my Class ltest in December 1977.1believe I was the first Asian to do this. My battle to find ajob then started, as I quickly noticed that many firms would not employ me because of the colour of my skin. When ringing employers I used to give them my nickname, Roger. I was invited to interviews, only to hear the famous words, "we are still seeing other applicants and will let you know". I would never hear from them again.
I finally started with a company near Swanley, Kent in February 1978, after first warning them I was a 'wog". Other drivers in the company would not sit with me during the ferry crossing, or go to the pub with me while waiting at Dover. I did enjoy the luxury of a cabin on my own, however, as other drivers would not share with me.
In the early 1990s I applied for one job with a haulier in Middlesbrough. They rang me to tell me to get my kit ready and to fax them a copy of my driving licence. As soon as I did this they rang back to say the driver who was leaving had changed his mind.
In a way I am proud of myself. Although not being assessed the same way as one of my counterparts, I have covered more than a million miles without a scratch (touch wood), and I hope the industry will change. My advice to racists is: "You have swapped your fish and chips for chicken tikka curry. Let's see some of this attitude in haulage." Roger, Name and address supplied.