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PREDICTIONS MAKE PRIZES

29th January 2004
Page 65
Page 65, 29th January 2004 — PREDICTIONS MAKE PRIZES
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Under-30s can share their predictions for lo gistics in 2008 and win £1,500 and a trip to Munich and Portugal. Emma Penny explains.

Imagine the scene: sense has prevailed, and at last someone from the road transport industry -who actually knows a hit about Dad& trucks and cars and can actually drive -is now the Transport Secretary.

You've taken on a task that everyone from ;tephen Byers and Alistair Darling to Twoags Prescott himself has failed at. But you're :onfident you can crack the problems. Nothing I good dose of common sense and a few dozen nick loads of money wouldn't solve... So what would you do?That's the chance ve're giving anyone under 30 in the Vision :008 competition run by the Road Haulage kssociation and MAN/ERF.We want to know that you'd do. and what effect you think your Ilan would have.

To be in the running for fl ,500 and trips to 'ortugal and Munich send us a brief 10-Point 'Ian and a maximum of 1.000 words giving our view of the type of changes and develpments needed over the next few years to diver your aims.

Judges from the RHA,MAN/ERF and :ommercial Motor will he looking for refernces to current issues such as the Working line Directive, fuel duty telematics, road illing and other legislative issues affecting perators, as well as predictions for future azards and opportunities.

So what would Commercial Motor have in s 10 Point Plan? We've taken a rather tongueI-cheek look at our Top 10but it might give Du some food for thought,so get writing...

:OMMERCIAL MOTOR'S 0-POINT PLAN FOR 2008

IAll cars and toreign trucks to be tolled for road use: this would ensure UK trucks could run on our roads without penalty unlike our foreign competitors and those pesky 24 million cars. Not a political vote winner, of course, but it would help UK trucks and the UK economy run more smoothly.

2 A reduced rate of fuel tax for CVs: trucks and vans delivering goods would be able to reclaim a proportion of fuel tax,making it easier for home-grown operators to compete against foreign firms.It would also recognise that the road transport industry is a vital part of British industry,much of which is already subsidised.

3 An end to city-centre delivery curfews: yes, unlikely we know, but we can dream. How much easier it would be if we could deliver at any time to any place. No more stress of ensuring drivers are out of particular areas before the curfew applies.

4 Parking wardens to give up ticketing trucks and vans whose drivers are simply trying to deliver the goods: blimey. wouldn't that would make a huge difference for commercial vehicle operators? No more fines to pay or time wasted trying to appeal to the "parking police".The powersthat-be really do need to understand that CV drivers are simply trying to do their job by trying to complete essential deliveries as quickly as possible, and that there's often not a designated unloading bay anywhere near where the delivery needs to be made.

5 Dispense with the 40mph HGV speed limit on A-roads.All it achieves is to cause frustration for following cars and results in accidents. it's about time the government revised the HGV speed limit upwards to recognise advances in vehicle technolog and safety since the current speed limits vt( introduced.And while we're at it, we recko foreign-registered trucks should be made t stick to speed limits too...

6 Instant and high roadside penalti for foreign trucks breaking the law is UK.This happens in other Europear countries, so why not here? Even with fore authorities' co-operation.there's no guarai that anything will happen to offenders ono home so there's no deterrent. On-the-spot lines or impounding trucks until fines are paid is the obvious solution.

7 The long-awaited introduction of tin 'Stan Robinson law': For the uninitia Stafford haulier Stan Robinson has long been campaigning for road trains to b( introduced for off-peak trunking.Two trail' pulled by one tractor would be much more ficient and would reduce pollutionwe thii it's high time that the Department Transpo considered the idea.

8 Compulsory training of car drivers to ensure they can drive safely round trucks.This is a major problem,highlighted in a special investigation by Comm dal Motor (8 January).This showed that cal were implicated in 68% of accidents involv trucks.The car driving test should be updat( to take trucks into account.After all, aren't , drivers much more likely to overtake truck; or pull onto motorways beside them, than ti make a three-point turn?

9 Rates need to rise and the governm should set minimum rates for journe) It might be harking back to the old da but minimum rates for journeys would at lei ensure truck companies were profitable. an stop cowboy operators forcing rates down f everyone else. It would also help push throu the increases demanded by higher fuel costi legislation such as the Working Time Direct 1 0 Better truckstops with tasty, low cost food and cheap overnight accommodation. Drivers need better facilities and better food:The cost of parking overnight in a secure UK truck part is unsustainable. We need the government to provide some start-up funding to develop more and better truckstops, with better facil ties and food. Hit's done on the Continent, why not here?.

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Locations: Munich

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