Whatever happened to greasy spoons?
Page 45
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• You recently printed a story about motorway truckstops (CM 10-16 Sept) and on the front cover you used the words "Truckstop deregulation — Will hauliers benefit". Well I read the story and I can answer your question by saying "No we won't".
I haven't got my own firm but I've been driving for a long time and anyone like me will tell you that a good truckstop isn't just somewhere you buy diesel and have a wash.
When I started they were places you got a good feed and a good welcome. There are still a few about, and now we're stuck on the motorways so much the best we can look forward to is a tarted up Little Chef where they think looking after professional drivers means putting your tea in a mug instead of a cup and having a shop that sells fluffy toys but gives you a funny look if you ask for a spare bulb.
Nearly everyone you spoke to were big companies. Don't kid yourself.
They'll push the independent truckstops out of business and then we'll have to choose between taking what they offer or living on sandwiches and sleeping in our cabs.
In your story you said: "Another feature of deregulation could be the arrival of high-street names such as MacDonalds or Burger King on the motorway scene." Hauliers benefit? You've got to be kidding.
Keith Cowan, Hadleigh, Suffolk.