FIGHTING BACK
Page 22
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When will the government introduce honesty and sanity into their political agenda when it concerns road transport?
We will continue to have problems, while we have representatives of the industry such as John Prescott, who I can only imagine was introduced to government to portray the common touch and widen voter appeal.
Anybody who is capable of using statistics to inform us that we are on a level playing field with our continental counterparts, while our industry is dying at his feet, speaks for itself. Why is it not possible to introduce a tariff on entry for all European and foreign trucks which are using our roads? How can a country with the expertise to extract taxation from both the front and back door continue the cry that it will cost more to administer than the revenue it produces?
It is obvious from the continued persecution of the industry that the government believes there are too many vehicles on the roads and the only answer is rail.
Governments past and present have an abysmal record with regards to the development of our road network, allowing for the revenue which has been created by fuel and road tax, so why should we believe that the railway and its funding poky will be any different?
We have no adequate rail infrastructure to handle the wide spectrum of goods and specialised services or the secondary transport system that is necessary for door-todoor deliveries.
If the government has the same success in resurrecting the transportation of goods as it has had with passenger services, then God help us.
What industry would tolerate the level of capital investment for a pence-per-mile return for which most taxi drivers would not move their vehicle from the ranks?
The Department of Transport enforces the tachograph and vehicle maintenance laws, which cannot be opposed as safety must be paramount What amazes me is the simple questions which both the Department of Transport and the government should ask themselves: "Why do operators cut corners?" Is it because the industry has a large criminal element, or is it just a case of survival and desperation? The industry regulators have got to hold up their hands and look at both ends of the problem.
The Department of Transport, backed by the government, should spend more time ensuring that hauliers are paid a fair rate for the job.
It is not in anyone's interest to push operators, their employees and their vehicles to the absolute edge of endurance and safety as an alternative to paying a sensible rate.
CE Stephens,
Glentworth,