1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156 
The world of haulage is on the brink of disintegration
Page 46
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
unless new drivers are attracted Into the industry says Pat Nicholson, treasurer of the newly formed Professional Drivers Association. And that means a whole new career structure.
• To sound off about a road transport Issue write to Patric Cunnane (patric.cunnane(á. rbi.co.uk) or fax your views (up to 600 words) to Nicky Clarke on 020 8852 8912.
di The Professional Drivers Association was formed just
under six months ago, in response to the need for an organisation to promote unity within the industry and to restore the respect that has been lost. During discussions on the Internet it became apparent that there were serious concerns about the transport industry and its future within the UK. A committee was formed and the PDA was launched at this year's Truckfest in Peterborough. We were, and still are, completely unfunded but we have managed to establish an association that commands a healthy respect from the media, support from firms such as Eurotunnel, Ivaco, Moto and Capitol Enterprises, and an ever growing membership of drivers, transport managers and other transport related personnel.
It was felt that the time was right for an organisation from with the industry, to address the general feeling of apathy that has spread, and to put the pride back into the heart of road haulage.
Drivers have to be multi-skilled and are among the most highly regulated people in the country during-the course of a working da Without them the transport industry will fall apart, but still nothing being done to encourage people into this profession.
Is it any wonder, when you consider the low wages and long ar unsociable hours worked: the inconvenience of being away from home; the attitude of other road users to lorries: the treatment received at delivery points; and the lack of basic facilities?
We will continue to campaign for improvements through reasonable representation, not radical confrontation, and will encourage the various sectors to unite and work together for a better future.
Newcomers will only be attracted into the industry if there a decent career structure ahead of them and they are treated with the respect they so rightly deserve. We are doing our bit 1 the education department-we have established a programme training workshops to assist new drivers and the Junior Truckers l School Scheme, where a unit is taken into schools to educate children about road safety. We have worked closel with motorway service operators to improve parking facilities and will continue to do so.
The government has to be prepared to lead tl way in this by clearing with the issues of unfair competition by foreign hauliers and the high level of taxation on the industry as a whole. This problem wit be compounded by the introduction a further 10 countries into the European Union over the next few years.
We have to have a level playing field in this country to compete effectively. Companies hay a duty to make employees more aware of the profit margins and difficulties of the day-to-day running of a business. Dialogue between driver: and management has to improve, with drivers being recognised as a company's representatives. Haulage companies have to bE prepared to work together on the problem of demurrage and rates in general.
Perhaps then, we can get rid of the apathetic attitude of 'nothing will ever change" and get back to the lorry driver being valued and proud to be a Knight Of The Road again.
• Contact the PDA at http://www.pda-uk.org/. Here, we are able to provide the Working Time Directive forum, assisted by the RHA and FTA; am legal forum. assisted by the PDA 'S transport solicitor, Michael Carless, among others.