AT THE HEART OF THE ROAD TRANSPORT INDUSTRY.

Call our Sales Team on 0208 912 2120

A matter of time

3rd July 2008, Page 3
3rd July 2008
Page 3
Page 3, 3rd July 2008 — A matter of time
Close
Noticed an error?
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.

Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

A -missed opportunity", -a pragmatic compromise, or an appalling 11th-hour fudge." Tick one from column A and one from Column B to confirm your view on the Working Time Directive and 'Periods of Availability'. Whatever the WTD might have done for UK Haulage plc, it certainly hasn't reduced the average working week For a typical UK driver. Yet wasn't it meant to stop drivers working 66-65 hours a week, or more, just to earn a 'living' wage land we use that word advisedly!? The trade associations will continue to defend POAs as the only way the average operator can survive without hiring more drivers or paying their drivers the same money for working fewer hours. Thus was born POAs, and yet another reason for not tackling the fundamental problem of the industry. Namely that road transport in the UK is too cheap, based upon [among others things) deliberately-depressed labour costs. It's a pity we can't deliberately 'depress' the price of diesel., loo.. but more on that later Best not get too comfortable with the VVTD, because the European Parliament is considering reclassifying POAs to working time. A move which would be embraced by the unions... although probably not Joe Soap Haulage. Meanwhile, any debate over the future of the WM and POAs is irrelevant until we've evidence to show it's being enforced. Unless we've dozed off, we haven't noticed any Landmark court cases brought by Vosa to prove non-compliance. Which either means the industry is compliant, or that Vasa has bigger fish to fry. But be warned, it could all unravel come December. And having wished that the price of diesel could somehow be 'depressed', should anyone feel happy with the results of this month's CM/Michelin

Pe net survey, which suggests that over Three-quarters of UK operators don't have a fuel-escalator written into their contracts... now that is depressing. Brian Weatherley


comments powered by Disqus