PRAISE WHERE IT'S DUE
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We admit it. In the past Commercial Motor has been rather critical of the Vehicle Inspectorate—and we stand by everything we've said about things like the VI's idiosyncratic approach to truck weighing targets. But praise where it's due: the inspectorate's planned programme of computerised roadside vehicle checks (see pages 2 and 14) is good news for every operator who wants to see standards in the industry rise. And without raising standards there wil1 be no raising rates—the two are inextricably linked. The ability to catch the bad apples in real time, at the kerbside, is a major step forward in enforcement. Moreover, the ability to keep Vehicle Examiners, Traffic Examiners, Traffic Area Offices and the Traffic Commissioners constantly updated on the behaviour of the nations' 0-licence holders should end the long and frustrating delays in bringing cowboy hauliers to book. Better yet, operators with a clean sheet should be left alone to get on with the business of staying in business. While we're at it, we should also credit the VI for funding the programme itself, through its controversial 20% efficiency gains. We'd have preferred to see the DOT pick up the bill, but what the hell. However, Marsham Street should note VI boss Ron Oliver's comment: "There's no scope to a further squeeze in terms of efficiency." In other words, enough is enough. We certainly won't nitpick over the way the VI intends to determine the true problem of illegal operations (rather than simply targeting specific groups it will now carry out a random annual survey of the UK's truck fleet to get a better picture of how many hauliers are actually breaking the rules). We await the results with interest. Things could be a lot better, or worse than we think. But either way we'll finally know for sure.