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FIRST PAST THE POST MEANS WE LOSE...
Page 10
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Typical! While operators throughout the UK are getting into a right state about the impending introduction of the Working Time Directive next March, the rest of Europe appears to be taking a much more relaxed approach. As our investigation this week indicates, the UK is leading the charge with the introduction while many other countries have consigned it to the slow lane.
When will we ever learn? Whenever a bit of legislation emanates from Europe we spend millions interpreting the law, wringing our hands over its introduction and worrying ourselves senseless. What's worse, operators have been making major business decisions often to close down their operations-based on this legislation which will affect profitability and the competitiveness of the economy. Now we discover our European neighbours are doing very little to comply or enforce it. Granted the French and Germans appear to be similarly duped into introducing the legislation, but the rest... nowhere.
Don't get us wrong; we're not arguing for the abandonment of the Working Time Directive (though that would probably be welcomed in many quarters). We recognise that if this industry is going to attract the right calibre of new entrants it needs to modernise and adapt with more socially acceptable working practices. But if the government is serious about fair play in Europe we need some action. Europe as a single trade area has to work, and be seen to work, for everybody. If not, Tony's referendum will be unwinnable.
"Europe as a single trade area has massive potential.
But it has to work
• This week we're launching an industry health check, produced in association with Michelin. Once a month we'll be surveying our panel of 150 road transport operators, representing a cross-section of industry, taking the temperature on important business issues. This month we've asked about business confidence and it's clear from the survey things are going well long may this continue.
• Be warned: turning to page 7 will ramp up your blood pressure. You'll find hews of the 10 Year Transport Plan. Except it's now a 139-page, 20-30-year "continuation plan" in which freight accounts for exactly five pages. Some comments are simply unprintable.