Fastracs 'must have licences'
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by Ian Wylie • Hauliers are venting their anger about the increasingly widespread use of JCB's Fastrac highperformance agricultural tractors as HGVs. Some of the vehicles in the Fastrac range can tow loads of up to 14 tonnes at speeds approaching 45mph. Many hauliers say they should be classified as trucks and have an 0-licence.
Farmer Gareth Jenkins from Ferndale, Mid-Glamorgan, was fined £300 in February for using a Fastrac and trailer without an 0-licence to haul spoil from a Welsh Water Authority site. Several hauliers have contacted CM about other cases.
Andrew Blagg of earthmoving specialist Blagg Plant Hire in Nottinghamshire says he is losing vital contracts to people using Fastracs. "It's getting beyond a joke," he says. "I see 16 and 17-year-olds pulling 18 tonnes to landfill sites with Fastracs. We're trying to compete with sixwheelers but we're being beaten because with a Fastrac you don't have the same burdens of maintenance, road tax, drivers' hours, health and safety or training costs."
Lincolnshire haulier Glynn Hughes says the use of Fastracs as HGVs is becoming widespread: "Running a business is difficult enough as it is, but how do you compete with Fastracs on red diesel?" he asks. "Good luck to the guys who are getting away with it, but the finger of blame will be pointing at the Government if a serious accident occurs as a result."
Both say the police are not interested in tackling Fastrac owners, but a spokeswoman for the Department of Transport advises hauliers to complain to their Traffic Commissioners.