SHOP TALK
Page 91
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• The misuse of letters of intent by prospective operators and those wishing to renew their 0-licences makes a mockery of the entire licensing system (see news story, page 5).
There is nothing wrong with an operator changing his maintenance arrangements, or indeed doing the work himself: what is wrong is that all to often the LAs are not told of any new arrangements.
We all agree that it is the condition of the vehicle on the road that is the primary concern; but operators who pull these tricks may well be running unsafe vehicles. We would also question how many operators have the ability to do the more complex work without the dedicated equipment found in professional workshops.
The answer is simple. Make workshop managers legally responsible for informing the LA if an operator does not take up a letter of intent or pulls out of a contract. This removes any commercial pressure on dealers and workshops to keep quiet. Operators would also know that the LA will be informed when they change their maintenance arrangements.
This may be unpalatable to our political leaders in a freemarket economy. But as things stand we punish those who try and slip up occasionally, while those who do not even attempt to maintain their vehicles properly are slipping through the net. That is more unpalatable, even for politicians.
Deputy editor: CalM Sowman 081-661 3680 Advertisement manager: Jeremy Fordrey 081-661 3665 Northern sales executive: Sheila Hanralian 061-873 7988 Publishing director: James Blazeby 081-661 3676 Workshop is published monthly as a supplement to Commercial Moior by Reed Business Publishing Ltd, Quadrant House, The Quadrant, Sutton, Surrey SM2 5AS (Telephone: 081-661 3500), typeset by Paulset Ltd, 1-5 Portpool Lane, London Eel and printed by Pulman Web Offset, Liletchley, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, © Reed Business Publishing Ltd, 1990, Facsimile machine 081-661 8971, Telex 892084 Reed SPG.
ISSN 001.0-3063
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