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70% want a
Page 8
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• Over two thirds of Britain's road transport companies would support a merger between the RHA and ETA, judging by the latest Commercial Motor survey (page 32).
Our sample of 200 operators were asked: "Would last year's proposed merger of the RHA and the ETA have benefited the road transport industry?" More than 70% said yes.
We put these and other results of our survey to the two trade associations. RHA director general Bryan Colley followed the line of his predecessor, Freddie Plaskett, when he told us: "The RHA and ETA have co-operated on issues and policies in the past and will continue to do so." Colley would not be drawn to comment on the overwhelming support for a merger, nor would he respond to the comments of many transport operators that a single unified road transport association would be better placed to regulate the industry.
The FM was even more reticent about the survey's findings: "Though we are pleased with many of the results of the survey, I am afraid we don't want to comment," said an PTA spokeswoman. It was PTA director-general Garry Turvey who first proposed the latest merger.
The survey also indicated strong support for greater regulation of the industry by the trade associations. When asked: "Should the trade associations play a role in regulating the industry?", four out of five operators said yes.
Many of those questioned said the RHA and ETA had a better understanding of the technicalities of road transport law than the enforcement authorities.
Colley says that those calling for greater RHA involvement in regulating the industry confuse regulations with enforcement: "The RHA is heavily involved inwegulation . . . the special types and spray suppression legislation was redrafted to take account of our recommendations," he says.