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letters
Page 132
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An everyday story of tractor driving
In hisSound Off article (CM 11-20 Nov) Paul Fox quite rightly condemns the lax attitude that this Government has towards agricultural transport. I hope the following tale adds some grist to his mill.
This summer a local 16-year-old, without any formal training, applied for and took his tractor test. The examiner duly arrived and watched as the said schoolboy drove a solo 100hp tractor once around the village green and reversed into a lane. After a few simple questions on the highway code he expressed himself satisfied and that was that.
Now "qualified", the lad proceeded to drive the same tractor with a 12-tonne trailer around the local roads and villages at its top speed of 30mph, with little regard for his own safety or that of others.
When I tried to express my concern to the farmer his only answer was that it was all legal and above board, which was correct. I might also add that the young man in question was working 70 to 80 hours per week and being paid around £40 for his efforts. I know the above is true for 1 was taking a break from truck driving and was also working on the farm.
Brake will no doubt gain even wider support if it adds the present tractor test to its list of evils to be conquered.
A word of caution for the transport industry, however. If farmers are required to use tested tractors and trailers with C+E drivers then there will be an awesome over-capacity in the haulage trade throughout the winter, with a consequent effect on already low rates. Justin Roberts, Witney
Adequate powers
Twrite in response to the iSound Off feature by Paul Fox (CV/ 14-20 Nov).
The ability for users of all agricultural tractors, whether fast or slow, to enjoy the "agricultural concessions" such as lower road fund licence, use of rebated fuel and so on is based on the use of the vehicles solely in the agricultural, horticultural or forestry industries.
I note that in the same issue you carry a report on a JCB Fastrac user, who was found to have operated outside this usage and was consequently prosecuted.
The issue here is not the need for yet more legislation, as proposed by Mr Fox, but for effective enforcement of the existing legislation which gives the regulatory bodies adequate powers to control the situation.
PF Heamingway, Landpower.
7 Are hauliers being undercut by farmers? See next week's CM.
Will it be biter bit?
p seems strange that the 1Road Haulage Association would want to appoint Steven Norris, the man who did nothing for the haulage industry while he held the post of transport minister.
There were rumours floating around the industry that Norris was set to replace the outgoing director-general Bryan Colley for months, but I couldn't believe they would do it.
Apart from questioning whether the RHA should be appointing a former government minister so soon after he left office, I would ask what on earth do they think they will be getting for the £150,000 a year it is reported they will be paying him?
Last-minute hitches aside, it looks as though the Labour party will win the general election scheduled to take place in May, just as Norris takes up his post. Any effectiveness he might have had will be immediately removed. It might even hinder his role. When he goes to the new transport ministers to ask them to bring forth legislation on impounding, they will simply ask him why, if it is such a wonderful proposition, did he not bring it in himself?
Not only will they not be disposed to hearing the much-needed lobbying on hauliers' behalf, they might be alienated by the messenger. It appears to me the RHA has once again shot itself in the foot.
Aggrieved RHA member.
Payment law
It is about time the Government introduced a law making it compulsory for everybody to be paid in 30 days. If this happened there would be no bankruptcies—the way small operators are treated is criminal. T Graham, Thomas Graham Transport.