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Back to the future...
Page 66
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Peter On returns to the UK to find the price of diesel too high, the fuel protests poorly supported and the future for hauliers uncertain.
Greetings one and all from the wonderful world of international glamour trucking: nice to see so many of you still suffering from selfinflicted poverty. I'm back, if temporarily.
This past 12 months has been interesting. Kept busy, could always do with more money, but I would probably waste it.
Might even buy a new truck — once again the last ever— but how could I leave my industry in the hands of someone who sat opposite me on the ferry confessing he has hated the job for the past four years and then got upset when! said that after 32 years! still enjoyed it? OK, I'm sad.
Hasn't the price of diesel gone up? The oil companies really got carried away in France until old Jacques Chirac threatened to slap a fuel tax on them; then the price dropped like a stone. Shell and BP are now competing to sell the cheapest diesel, but let's not get excited —it's still a damned sight more expensive than when laughing boy and his buddy invaded Iraq.
And I really have to mention my favourite again:Transport Secretary Alistair Darling who over the past year has blown, wait for it1328m on advisors and consultants while I notice in CM some clown of a Transport Minister advises US to become more efficient. Get a life, pal.
If any of you are interested, it would cost £82m to reduce the price of dery by lp a gallon, so Alistair actually costs us 4p on every gallon.And, of course, that doesn't include his wages, pension, expenses, etc.
have to mention the poorly supported fuel protests. I cannot understand why the organisers didn't try to ensure greater support, or at least wait to see what the Burns Inquiry might achieve.What message has been sent to Gordon Brown?
I've told you all before that he requires billions by 2006 — it seems that he now knows where to get it.
As for my future, one worry is that the French government has recently sold its interest in the autoroutes for €13bn, supposedly to balance its books for the EU. (Or is it to clear the way to introduce a congestion charge on our national routes?) Could be interesting.
And a new truck is on the agenda. We all have our opinion of the best ever;! have so far owned two on my list, headed by the mighty Scania 141.The third is the big Maggie, Renault's finest, which today seems, at the price offered, a steal— and with a table and chairs.
The latest model features a Volvo engine and at 480 it should do the business, but it seems! might die of old age before! get a demonstrator. Still, it better he good or you will ALL hear about it.
So! will continue trundling around Europe, aware that if prices rise too far their vigorous trade associations will do something about it.
As for here in the UK, the future is in your own hands. •