• Sauce for the gander
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In expressing concern at the delay in introducing the type approval scheme for commercial vehicles, the Freight Transport Association raises an important point of principle. Acceptance of higher operating standards was based, at least implicitly, on the understanding that type approval would be introduced at a reasonably early date, as part of the Ministry of Transport's overall programme for raising vehicle safety standards. Now it seems that type approval, originally intended for application progressively from the end of 1970 to the beginning of 1972, has been considerably delayed, and no firm date has been settled for its introduction.
• There are many reasons for this, some stemming from the sheer mechanics of imposing the scheme, others resulting from EEC moves towards standardized type approval, which British legislators cannot ignore. Whatever the reasons, the setback is very regrettable. Operators rightly regard type approval as one way of ensuring a fairer spread of responsibility between the manufacturing and operating sectors. By setting higher standards at the design stage than those stipulated for vehicles in use, a margin would be provided to allow for the inevitable drop in performance during a vehicle's service life.
In the absence of type approval, manufacturers have not ignored the spirit of the Ministry's intentions. The important features embodied in the Code of Practice have already been accepted as design requirements. On brakes, for example, CM road tests of new vehicles have demonstrated that 60 per cent efficiency, as called for by the Code, is being achieved.
Nevertheless, when operators are under such pressure to meet specified standards and face heavy penalties for infringements, and in a situation where it is not unknown for new vehicles to bt delivered in a condition in which they would fail the Ministry test, hauliers and own-account operators have every right to expect that the legal obligations represented by type approval will be put into force as early as possible. And if attention given to type approval means less attention to new user legislation, operators will not complain.
Professional selection
What sort of road haulage industry do operators want? The statesmanlike speech by the director-general of the Road Haulage Association at last week's NAFWR conference reflected the aspirations of a growing number of hauliers who wish to see the industry regarded in a professional light. The Oxford English Dictionary defines "profession" in this context as "a vocation or calling, especially one that involves some branch of learning or science". All the definitions imply a sense of dedication far beyond the commercial motives normally associated with running a business.
Mr. Newman said that the true profession would so organize its own affairs and set its own standards as to reduce to a minimum the need for regulation from outside. For an industry which has attracted so much external regulation this suggests that an enormous amount has yet to be achieved.
When the speaker added: "Only self-discipline brings true freedom" he gave new meaning to the proposals, now being discussed within the Association, for rules of conduct whose infringement means exclusion. If the Association is to achieve the higher standards and merit the status which some members seek, this seems inescapably to involve a smaller RHA composed of those hauliers who genuinely desire high standards and are prepared to accept the discipline which this demands.