NEXT WEEK
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BRITAIN lives by its exports and many hauliers live by carrying export loads. We're taking a look at international haulage next week, when we publish our annual Roll-on/off Ferry Guide.
• Our annual ferry guide covering the British Isles, the Continent and Scandinavia is an invaluable list of routes, times and contacts. We show the out routes in geographical order starti-ig from the North; if an operator or driver can't manage one port on the day, our guide shows the nearest one that is suitable. This year we have the details on 95 routes.
• Some exporters still use firms with inexperienced dirvers and fail to get their documentation right. However, there exists a pool of reputable operators that can be contacted by anyone who has their list. We refer to the Road Haulage Association's international group, and we list its members next week.
• lain Sherriff has chaired a round table from members of the Road Haulage Association international group. They start off by discussing permit quotas. "We aren't in favour of the abolition of permits," says group chairman Russ Peters, "because we feel that they provide the only system whereby the quality of the operator can be controlled."
• Road transport has always played an important role in freight forwarding, no matter by what mode the freight travels. Nowadays, it is not uncommon for international hauliers to undertake the forwarding function. Conversely, forwarders often double up as road hauliers. CM is commencing a new irregular series designed to keep readers informed on these matters. Norman Til s ley pens the first one next week.
• The last drawbar combination tested by CM was a Daf 2300 back in 1981. Speed limits in force at that time seriously curtailed its operational value. Now free of such Constraints but with no improvement in maximum weight, we report on today's equivalent, the Daf 2500 with 14hp more, and see how faster journey times influence Fuel consumption figures.