A NOTE FOR THE DOCTOR
Page 7
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Be honest. How many times have you threatened to send a "Yours in disgust..." letter, only to let the moment slip by? Well now's your chance. The Transport Secretary says he wants hauliers to talk to him about transport and the environment (see page 4). Cynics, and hauliers have more reason than most to be cynical, might wonder if Dr Mawhinney is really prepared to put logic ahead of political expediency. But, maybe for the last time, let's give the DOT the benefit of the doubt. Maybe the good doctor has finally realised that he needs more direct contact with the industry. Assuming you do get round to putting pen to paper, what should you write about? For a start you might call for a 44-tonne general haulage limit: at the last count that would take 9,000 trucks off the road. And how about environmental grants, encouraging operators to buy Euro-2 engines ahead of the 1996 deadline? Then you could tell the DOT to invest more money in public transport, in a bid to ease the congestion caused by the UK's 22 million car drivers. And while you're at it, you might back the Department of Trade and Industry's approach to disqualifying directors of failed companies and ask the Secretary of State to look into the worrying number of freight forwarders who blossom and die—and blossom again—owing thousands to truck operators (see page 8). Don't forget to bock Commercial Motor's campaign for the compulsory registration of HGV driver training schools. It wouldn't hurt to repeat the warning that cutting the Vehicle Inspectorate's budget by 20% will benefit no one but the outlaw, unlicensed hauliers, while impounding their trucks would make our roads safer and give the law-abiding majority the feeling that the DOT actually believes in enforcing the laws it passes. As we've seen recently with the livestock export
fiasco, a few hundred highly vocal activists can grab the spotlight and, quite possibly, institute major changes in the law. Isn't it about time that the UK's most essential industry was taken seriously? The trade associations do their best but don't leave it all to them: write that letter now, to Dr Brian Mawhinney, Secretary of State for Transport, 2 Marsham Street, London SW1 P 3EB Dr Mawhinney says he wants to hear from you; give him a reply he won't forget.