No cover for one-man bands
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• More than a thousand British owner-drivers have been left without an organisation to represent them after the recent Failure of the two groups dedicated to fighting their cause.
Last week, the National Owner Drivers' Association closed after more than 30 years of representing self-employed drivers. The news came on top of the closure of Owner Operators UK just before Christmas last year. Both organisations blamed dwindling numbers and apathy from owner-drivers. NODA had watched its membership drop by 25% to just over 600, while Owner Operators had just 500 when it folded. NODA general-secretary Mick Binns says the failure leaves owner-drivers unrepresented at a time when they most need it.
The demise of both groups leaves former members in a difficult position. Unions have traditionally been reluctant to allow the self-employed to join, and membership of the Road Haulage Association for operators running a single vehicle costs 2188 a year.
Mick Binns: No more NODA.