Tachograph indecision
Page 35
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I attended the Annual Conference of the Institute of Road Transport Engineers and listened to the answers given by Mr Furness of the DoE when he replied to questions regarding tachograph installations.
Whilst I understand and respect the standpoint Mr Furness took, obviously the answers he gave had to be inconclusive,
I believe our industry is in a dilemma and needs some clear help on this subject:—
(a) The implementation dates for tachograph installation draw closer.
(b) Our recent change of Government with its stated intention of renegotiating Common Market conditions and holding a referendum raises doubts for future domestic requirements. Also, the type approval of a UK instrument has not been progressed.
(c) Representatives of instrument manufacturers are very active trying to sell a "UK" instrument. An EEC-type instrument does not appear to be readily available, and, because of original Common Market timetables being in advance of ours, when EECtype instruments are available they will be sold into the earlier markets of Europe.
(d) The position of the unions is far from clear. Some companies who have tried to inStall tachographs have been firmly stopped by the unions. It is significant that in the tachograph manufacturers' commercial vehicle fleets, the unions will not permit the instruments to.be used. Some union leaders have made comments to the effect that, providing drivers receive special payments, and also providing that graphs are not used to provide the industry with the so-called advantages, then the unions may not object to the exercise.
A lot of us are poised and anxious and whilst the uncertainty remains, January 1 976 draws ever nearer.