'HAULIERS MUST DEFEND THEMSELVES'
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"WE must defend ourselves against the
If! allegations sometimes madethat hauliers have a somewhat careless attitude towards such things as speed limits. drivers' hours, maintenance and so on," said Mr. D 0, Good. Road Haulage Association chairman, speaking at the West Midland area's dinner in Birmingham on Tuesday.
No industry was perfect, went on Mr. Good, and there were occasions when a minority of operators failed to come up to the high standards set by their fellows. But in no case was an industry condemned for the faults of a minority. particularly when most of the offenders probably did not hold the appropriate licence to operate and were not, therefore. hauliers at all.
The vast majority of members were very concerned indeed about their standards of operation. went on Mr. Good, saying it was appropriate that he should introduce this theme in the West Midland area, which in many was s had been particularly progressive.
-The Birmingham Chamber of Commerce was perhaps the first organization to sponsor a comprehensive inquiry into the problem of improving the turn-round of goods vehicles. said Mr. Good. At the same time the R.H.A. was planning its own "'[urn That Lorry Round!" campaign, and the results of the inquiry provided extremely useful material for thc campaign when in due course it was launched in conjuction with R.R.S.
Referring to the topical Channel-link problem, Mr...Good said that the latest
report seemed to have come down heavily in favour of a rail-only tunnel, an opinion which he could riot help feeling was backward-looking and out of tune with the modern needs of trade and industry.
In his drive to improve vehicle standards. the Minister of Transport had imposed harsher penalties for a number of offences. "We cannot help thinking that in so doing he has introduced a few anomalies and their removal would improve the legislation," said Mr. Good.
Discussing a problem that has developed since the legislation was passed, Mr. Good stressed that where the owner of a business could be identified as the person who permitted the use of an offending vehicle, he could have his own driving licence endorsed, or even confiscated, for offences which in the legal term he had permitted ". While the R.H.A. had no desire to condone the offences. it seemed illogical and unnecessarily harsh that they should be responsible for preventing the owner, who was not the vehicle's driver, from using his own car.
Mr. Good said that the R.H.A. was strongly committed to promoting throughout the road haulage industry the highest possible standards of conduct and vehicle maintenance, and on some points could even boast that it was setting a particularly good example. But it was felt that the co-operation of members would not be helped if they felt that the law had been exercised unjustly against one of their number.