Spread the word : we're the good guys
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• Upon opening Commercial Motor (31 Dec-6 Jan), the very first thing I saw was Stephen Joseph of Transport 2000 undermining the road haulage industry by demanding that trucks pay road tolls before any other vehicles because they are few in number and unpopular, and that road-use costs should be increased.
While we may live in a democracy I fail to understand how Mr Joseph can be allowed to exaggerate the facts beyond the bounds of understanding.
What logic dictates that as trucks are fewer in number they should be the first to pay road tolls? Perhaps Mr Joseph is wise enough to realise that there is no political gain in upsetting the majority voter.
There is no logical sense in increasing the costs of road transport to match that of rail. On the contrary, it is rail that should get its costings right to compete with road transport.
Knowledgeable people, and perhaps even those with slight intelligence, will realise that warehouses cost money to build and run, and the increased price of goods will have to cover these costs.
The only reason that trucks are unpopular with the public is that the public does not always understand their strategic importance. Fools are allowed to manipulate the public's viewpoint with less than the complete facts.
Solutions to the problem?
Of course there are, and it's none too soon for the transport industry to take up the challenge and actively promote itself and educate the general public in our favour. MJ Googe, Cam Speed, Teversham, Cambs.