Toughen up these • regs call by RHA
Page 17
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
NEW RULES proposed on access to the profession of road haulier have been given a qualified welcome by Road Haulage Association chairman Jack Male.
He told the RHA eastern area dinner last week: • The RHA view is that "relevant convictions" referred to in the proposals — Goods Vehicle Operators (Qualification) Regulations, which come into force next January — should not be confined to those mentioned in the 1968 Transport Act.
"Because of the enormous value of the goods that our industry carries annually we bear a very heavy responsibility in ensuring the safe transit of goods entrusted to our care," he said.
• It is not always easy to spot the "maverick operator" and Mr Male advocated higher fines to discourage practices which bring hauliers into disrepute.
• There is a danger if one qualified transport manager being nominated as being professionally competent by several companies making the employment of the manager "merely notional."
• On the question of grandfather rights it might also be possible for 'operators with no experience of carrying for hire and reward to be granted the rights.
We continue to contend most strongly that these rights should be conferred only on those operators who can prove or declare that before January 1 1975 they had in fact engaged in such work," he said.
Mr Male said, however, that he welcomed the Goods Vehicle Operators (Qualifications) Regulations.
This new legislation comes into force a decade after the 1968 Transport Act, which was the last major piece of legislation relating to road goods licensing," he said. On the positive side one of the most encouraging aspects had been the extent of the involvement of the Government with the RHA in discussing ways and means of achieving the aims of this legislation.
There was more to road haulage than simply ensuring the efficient movement of goods; there was that most elusive intangible — trust. That was why the RHA would prefer to see stronger penalties relating to convictions for offences against property.
"It is my hope that the enactment of the Regulations next January will further strengthen the positive contribution which the road haulage industry make to the economy of Britain," he said.