LEGAL EAGLE
Page 24
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I have been following the CM articles regarding Cranleigh Freight Services and its dealings with the VI over the disconnected brake suzie.
Jonathan Lawton, defending, states: "it was impossible to say when and where the suzie became disconnected, or whether it had occurred on the road. It might even have occurred as the vehicle was driven into the check site" (CM17-23 June).
Also, he argued in the company's defence: "The VI agreed that the line could have become uncoupled at any time. The magistrates were satisfied that there was no fault on the part of the company or driver."
Here is a relatively simple case which made the pages of CM. It started with a roadside check. The service line was not connected. On reconnection, the VI lifted the prohibition, therefore the coupling must have been in good working order as the VI obviously checked its condition in order to remove the prohibition.
If the service line became disconnected during the journey, then it must have been faulty and the fault would have been observed by the VI and the immediate prohibition would have remained.
You may ask: "Is the industry to blame? Why can you drive a truck with a disconnected service line?
I would ask, what are the benefits of self-sealing couplings compared with manual-control valves?
What would have happened if this vehicle had manualcontrol valves fitted? In today's climate of electronic control and pilot control valves could we not overcome this problem and stop this situation arising?
This case is one of the reasons I read CM. Jonathan Lawton and the way he defends his clients makes interesting reading.
When !see his name I have to read the article to see what it contains. Could CM not ask this gentleman to write an article on his court proceedings and his dealings with the VP I for one would certainly read any article this gentleman writes about
Many thanks to CMfor an excellent magazine.
John Macartnay, Livingston, Scotland.
• We will certainly continue to cover a range of legal issues in CM, including Jonathan Lawton's activities—Ed.
HAZCHEM ROUTE
Concerning your article on ferry Hazchem services (CM 8-14 July), I feel a little miffed as your writer has failed to mention the SeaFrance Dover/Calais service, and in particular our Freighter, Nord Pas de Calais.
She was, for well over three years, the sole 'freight only" facility available on the world's
busiest driver-accompanied route, so a lithe mention would have been greatly appreciated.
We have a total of four vessels on this route offering a total of 20 daily departures in each direction, and the Nord Pas de Calais continues to complete five daily round trips with a capacity of 80 vehicles on each sailing.
Adrian Richardson, Freight sales & marketing manager, SeaFrance, Freight Sales, Dover, Kent.
OPEN LETTER
An open letter to Denzil Davies MP, House of Commons: Dear Sir,
As you may know, the Road Haulage Industry Forum is due to meet on 19 July when ministers will be discussing the desperate plight of the UK haulage industry with our trade association.
This meeting is very important to me and my company. There is little doubt that current government policy is destroying thousands of jobs—a number of them in companies like mine in your own constituency—and also losing hundreds of millions of pounds in fuel duty which is going to foreign governments whose rates of duty are about
half what they are in the UK.
The Road Haulage Association has produced a solution for the Government which can overcome this problem without undermining government environmental policy. In fact, if the Government does not respond positively to our concerns, we can show you that pollution in Great Britain will actually get worse. Surely that cannot be what the Government intends. lIWWiUiams& Sons,
Llanelli, Dyfed.
TOLL FURY
What has happened to the fuel tax protests? First we have high VED and fuel taxes. Now we have that arrogant "two fags" Prescott considering tolls on roads. Hauliers and drivers alike want to say NO to this "poll tax on wheels". I will not be paying twice—that's what VED is for, isn't it?
We have got to tell Prescott that enough is enough.
James Muffle, Carlisle, Cumbria.
TOP TIDDLERS
I have just come back from the South-West Truckfest '99 at Shepton Mallet. I enjoyed myself very much at the show. The show is the second best Truckfest—Truckfest at Peterborough is the best.
I noticed at Peterborough this year and at the South-West Truckfest there were some smart 7.5-tonners at the shows, but there was no category covering trucks under 7.5 tonnes. Is it possible for Truckfest 2000 at Peterborough and the South-West Truckfest 2000 that you could have a category for trucks under 7.5 tonnes?
After all, there are some smart 7.5-tonners on UK roads, and most truck drivers start driving a 7.5-tonner before moving up to Class lor 2.
I hope you can consider my idea for Truckfest Paul, Dartford, Kent.
PS: Will there be a return of the Norfolk Truckfest in the year 2000? I attended the last Norfolk Truckfest In 1990.
• Interesting ideas, Paul, which we will certainly consider. Do any other readers have suggestions for Truckfest 20002—Ed.