Professional qualifications
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Fthere a need for a new professional organization to cater especially for the operating side of Aand C-licensed road transport? This question is asked seriously. It is posed after considerable thought. It is intended, if no more, to stir the existing professional bodies into some possibly useful self-criticism and analysis.
There are three main bodies of this type which cater for the operating staff of road hauliers and ancillary users. They are the Institute of Transport, the Industrial Transport Association and the Institute of Traffic Administration.
Take first the senior organization, the Institute of Transport. Its level of conduct is the very highest. Its examination syllabus is academically above reproach; but is open to considerable criticism on practicalities. It could take the lead and conduct itself as the major voice of the industry; but it chooses (with, it must be admitted, sound reason) not to do so. Its membership, although large, is virtually non-existent on the road haulage side and not particularly strong on the Clicence front, either. Is its present framework sufficient to attract the men on whose behalf this question has been posed? If they are not joining in substantial numbers, it could be lethargy on their own part or it could be that they do not find attractive what the Institute offers them. Perhaps they feel it is a little "above their heads", whether in fact that is a valid feeling or not. Perhaps they feel it is too concerned with being a forum for all forms of transport—and indeed in this respect the Institute does an irreproachable job.
What of the other two bodies? So far as membership is concerned they are not at present in the same league; but is that a usable criterion? The Industrial Transport Association is very active (in London at least) on the education front; but is virtually duplicating the IoT syllabus, so must also ask itself whether this is what operators want. It concerns itself solely with C-licensees.
The IoTA does not seem so far advanced educationally but caters for A and C licence traffic staff.
The big question remains unanswered. Why do operators not join in substantial numbers? Is something else required? Or should the present bodies take a long, hard look at themselves?