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'Tachographs will enhance driver status' say work study men
Page 20
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Truck makers go ahead with fitting
TACHOGRAPHS will not only protect the driver but enhance his status as a responsible member of society, said The Institute of Work Study Practitioners in a statement on Monday supporting the EEC proposals.
The statement, by the transport and distribution specialist group board of the Institute, says that the only real objections to tachographs can be from those who are prepared to break the laws to their own advantage.
The board nevertheless appreciates the emotive reaction against the tachograph by the unions, the concern of operators at the cost of installation and maintenance and the hesitancy of such organizations as the Freight Transport Association.
The conclusion of the board is that it will be to the mutual advantage of the driver, the operator and the nation if tachographs are fitted and properly used — so long as the instruments are fit for the expected lifetime of the vehicle and are easily read and understood.
Being a faithful record of the movement of the vehicle. the tachograph will demonstrate impartially that the driver has done an agreed fair day's work for an agreed fair day's pay.
The transport operator will also be assured that his capital equipment is not abused, and vehicle defects can then be properly laid at the door of the manufacturers — which should result in product improvement. Analysis of tachograph figures should also help to provide much more accurate costing and charging — "a situation satisfactory both to the operator and his customer."
The board deprecates, and questions the need for, extending restrictive legislation in road transport, but concludes that the rules, under EEC regulations, are justified.
Fitting them now
A CM check in the North West this week showed that, despite the chorus of objection against tachographs in the UK, British truck makers are going ahead with their fitting plans. (All new vehicles are, under EEC provisions. due to be fitted with tachographs from January 1. 1976).
Tachographs are already being fitted as original equipment, from this month, on the Leyland Marathon and will be offered as an optional 'extra on the Terrier, Boxer, Mastiff and "Albion" chassis. From June, 1975 the instruments will be standard on Lynx, Bison and Buffalo models and by October next year all British Leyland trucks over 31/2 tons gvw will leave the works with Lucas-Kienzle or Smiths tachographs as standard.
Operators receiving the new B-series ERF will find that a tachograph is part of the original equipment: the eight-wheeler chassis which should start to reach customers late this year will probably be the first, while the tractive unit which is due in full production by March or April next year will certainly have the instrument.
It is much the same story with Fodens Ltd, who will fit the Lucas-Kienzle EEC type as standard across its range from April 1975.
From mid-1975 the topweight Seddon-Atkinson range will be fitted with tachographs, and these instruments will be original equipment on all vehicles before the end of next year.