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DON'T FALL FOR DIRTY TRICKS

2nd September 2004
Page 10
Page 10, 2nd September 2004 — DON'T FALL FOR DIRTY TRICKS
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Why bother going to the lengths of robbing a bank when there's a much easier, less risky and potentially more lucrative option? Like stealing a truck and its load...

That realisation should be enough to make everyone in the industry think about security. Truck crime, it seems, is back on the agenda; this week we bring news of scams designed to get drivers out of their cabs so thieves can step in and drive off. Perhaps it's time for everyone who runs trucks to consider just how vulnerable their loads are. With the keys left in the ignition while a driver goes to pay for fuel or check something, they are sitting targets.

Some methods are more brutal than others but however the thieves work, watching the tail-end of a truck disappearing is a sickening sight. And it's not made easier by hikes in insurance following a claim. It's sad when you can't even trust someone who points out that your doors are open, or that your number plate has fallen off. But if you want to avoid having your truck and load stolen, you have to treat everyone as a potential thief. That is the only way to guarantee everyone's safety.

"Scams to get drivers out of their cabs so thieves can step in and drive off"

• VOSA's decision to trial safety inspection periods of up to 12 weeks on selected vehicles makes sense — VOSA and the TCs deserve some praise for engaging in such a forward thinking project. Thanks to on-board electronics and telematics, a modern-day artic can be "condition monitored" on the road anytime, anywhere, without having to be brought back to base every four or six weeks for a safety inspection which turns up absolutely nothing. However, the trial needs to be handled with care, and it needs support from everyone in the industry, rather than just a few interested and enthusiastic parties. The prize is greater vehicle utilisation. But safety, whether perceived or real, can't be compromised.

• Fancy a new 4x4? Then enter our competition to win a £15,000 Tata Safari. There's an entry form in this week's CM(see page 60) and for the next two weeks. You can enter as many times as you like. The more you enter, the better your chances of winning.

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