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CRACK DOWN TO SHAPE UP
Page 5
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• It's ironic that in this week's issue we have a feature on the benefits of BS5750 — and a report that nigh on one in four of the vehicles stopped in Operation Chemcheck were breaking the Hazchem regulations. What's more, during a similar enforcement exercise on the M25, only 40 of the 109 vehicles stopped were found to be fault-free.
The haulage industry is raising its standards. . . who are we kidding? For every dozen operators striving to set the right standard there are probably two well and truly rotten applies spoiling it for them. It could be said that most of the 162 I-lazchem offences discovered by Chemcheck were trivial, being related to documentation and labelling — but trivial for whom? Not the driver who has no idea of what he's carrying. Not for the policeman who could have to make a split-second decision on how to treat the vehicle in the event of an accident. Certainly not for the fireman who will have to know exactly what he's up against when every cargo is a potential time-bomb.
So what's the answer? Winning BS5750 is a laudable goal that should be the aim of every professional haulier. Like a certain credit card, it will say a lot more about your company than a glossy brochure ever can. But we must accept that only a minority of operators are currently capable of gaining BS5750. Most UK hauliers run five or less vehicles, and have different standards to the big boys. How do you persuade them that standards need raising — despite the expense?
The answer probably comes in two parts. In the long term there should be the example set by the larger companies — and the business it wins for them. In the short-term it comes down to enforcement, and lots of it. Never mind checks on the road every other month: let's have them every other day if need be.
Nothing sharpens haulage standards quite like the threat of an 0licence revocation — and in the final instance that's the only language that the cowboys really understand.