Law change sought on agricultural tractors
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• In his report of the past year's work of the Road Haulage Association's agricultural hauliers' functional group, Mr G. W. Pell, chairman, said that the Association was continuing to urge the Department of the Environment to change the law which permitted an agricultural contractor (one engaged on specialized work taking his vehicles off the public road for part of the time) to operate tractors and trailers without regard to road safety provisions which the agricultural haulier had to observe. "The agricultural contractor has been able to use his tractors and trailers substantially overloaded, operating on rebated fuel, not subject to the plating and testing or the Construction and Use Regulations in regard to brakes, tyres, etc, not restricted in the number of hours his drivers are permitted to work, able to have his tractors driven by youths, and in addition use rebated fuel, and the tractor and trailer pays only a very small proportion of the vehicle excise duty levied on agricultural hauliers' vehicles," continued the chairman. The long-distance functional group agm was told by Mr H. A. Russett, chairman, that "business has been harder to get than it has been for many a year. It has been almost impossible in some cases to maintain existing rates let alone obtain legitimate increases to cover rising costs. The situation has not been helped by the influx of new operators' licences. It is hoped that the forthcoming year will see the increase it business that we are all awaiting".
Continental record books
• British hgv drivers engaged on inter national work should be allowed to use 1 Continental-type record book for gm British parts of their journey, the Freigh Transport Association has told the Depart ment of the Environment. The Association has agreed to till principle of allowing foreign goods vehict drivers the option of using either an AEU or EEC-type record book while in thi country. At the same time, it suggests i • would be logical for British drivers engage( on international work to be given similar concession, which would simplif. the present record-keeping requirement. From April 1 1973, British drivers cm international work will be required t( maintain an EEC record book for th whole of their international journeys.
CIT ---ITA merger
• The April 15 meeting of the ITA ii Birmingham (CM last week) is being cane' to give members the opportunity to as questions about the merger with CIT. Th ITA points out that it has ratified the term of that merger.