DEAR
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SIR
ALCOA SETS THE RECORD STRAIGHT II We are very concerned to find that in the July 7-13 issue of Commercial Motor you have used a photograph of an Alcoa forged aluminium wheel to illustrate your news item "Wheels Still Dropping as IRTE Report Arises".
Although we appreciate that there may not have been a deliberate intention to suggest that Alcoa wheels are involved in wheel-loss incidents, there is no doubt that some connection is implied by the use of the photograph in this way. The unique design of the Alcoa wheel makes it readily identifiable. Alcoa wheels occupy only a specific sector of the total truck-wheel market, and it is therefore clearly unfair to single it out, as this picture appears to do.
In point of fact, as far as we know, there is no case on record of an Alcoa wheel being involved in a wheel-loss incident of the kind described.
Maurice Taylor, Consultant, Wheel Division — UK Market, Alcoa Manufacturing, (GB) Worcester. FINDING THE Mgr VAN DRIVER IIII thought you and the readers, especially employers, would be interested in the response I had after placing an advert for a van driver in the situations vacant pages of your magazine (CM 2-8 June).
The position required a responsible person to be engaged on nationwide deliveries and collections, operating through our Maidstone base, driving a modern, well-equipped Mercedes 307D tilt box vehicle. As far as response was concerned the applicants numbered only six— from the following areas: North Shields, Hexham, Barrow-inFurness, Warrington, Cardiff and south-east London. One from each.
On first impressions, if they count for anything, the standard of all applicants was high and their attitudes seemed very mature and responsible.
Owing to distance, however, and the difficulties of relocation, for obvious reasons it resulted in none of the applicants being taken on. Their decision as well as mine.
Through this page! would like to thank all those people for applying and wish them all the best for the future.
Should any employers in the areas mentioned require enthusiastic people, they can contact me at the address given.
Incidentally, I did place two drivers locally.
John Lawson, Lawson Freight Services Maidstone, Kent. all-British engine"; especially as Gardner is now controlled by Perkins.
One cannot help feeling that more discount is given to Cuin. mins buyers, like in the late 1960s and early 1970s to people buying Japanese cars. C R Meadows, GI Yarmouth, Norfolk.
DOES ERF FACE A LOSS OF INDENTITT?
• ERF has stated that it will not be fitting the uprated 310 Gardner engine into its heavy truck models.
It has a short memory because Gardner engine made ERF first with its LW and LXT engines and now ERF is firmly committed to Cummins, because of profit margins.
If you buy a Volvo or Scania they make their own engines, gearboxes or axles. ERF will become another Leyland and will lose its identity.
Jonathan Jones, Pembrokeshire, Dyfed.
READER REQUEST FOR OLD MAG • May! use your letters page to ask help of your readers?
I am trying to obtain a copy of a magazine published by the Commercial Vehicle and Road Transport Club and called Move. The issue I am trying to obtain dates back to 1972 and is volume 2, number 6.
Any help in tracking down a copy of this magazine would be greatly appreciated.
C N Barnett, 19 High Street, Weedon, Northampton NN7 4QD Tel: (0327) 42489