Wake up, England!
Page 17
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I have recently returned to England after spending two years on the Continent ; during my stay myself and my family travelled many thousands of miles and crossed, and recrossed, many frontiers. Throughout the two-year period I owned and drove a British registered I-ton van and obviously became very familiar with European road systems and the documentation necessary to pass freely between countries. I only state these facts to illustrate that I am reasonably au fait with border control procedure and foreign driving conditions.
During the course of my • travels and work environment I met and talked to a fair number of TIR drivers, many of whom were English ; the net result of these talks was an ever-increasing interest in their work and in the transport business in general. Upon my return to England in August I contacted several transport companies who are involved in the TIR business and applied for a driver's job, particularly on Continental and/or Middle East traffic.
Without exception each company was only interested in whether or not I was in possession of the appropriate hgv licence and upon learning that I was not, simply refused to discuss the matter further. Two firms even bemoaned the difficulty they had experienced in acquiring the " right" men for the job and related stories of abandoned vehicles and their loads lost, of drivers simply disappearing with prepaid expenses. From the men involved in this industry that I have spoken to I am convinced that these unfortunate . incidents are rare, although it surely illustrates that only men of proven and high calibre can do justice to the demanding conditions of foreign driving.
Whilst not belittling the possession of an hgv licence surely, under the current high-cost conditions, other factors are just as important to the selection of the correct staff. Without wishing to appear pretentious I feel that I could offer an efficient .haulage company the necessary qualities required to make a reliable and involved driver. First, I am a good fitter and mechanic with diesel experience ; secondly I am a good driver, with a clean licence, and in the past have had a lot of experience driving heavy vehicles, both long rigids and twin units.
As stated I have a wealth of foreign knowledge and also speak good Italian and enough Spanish to get by. At this time both myself and my family are prepared to move to almost anywhere in the country for the right job ; I am 42 years of age and in excellent physical condition ; I can produce references to both ability and character. Why then is no one interested ?
With the high capital investment and ever-soaring running costs which are ever predominant in the transport industry it must be of some advantage to employ persons capable of appreciation of these facts and who are profit motivated. Surely the Ministry of Transport do not demand these qualities when testing one's ability to handle a rig. K. W. SHAW, Hendon NW4.