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'Bring us back'
Page 83
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As a regular reader of Commercial Motor for many years I. along with many other experienced drivers', am at a loss to understand why with 26.000 hgv drivers short in the transport business all the men with vast experience on the roads — and on all types of vehicles — are not brought back to ease this shortage.
I speak of all the hundreds like myself who were victimized by the law introduced by Barbara Castle that said a man must have been driving six months out of 12 at a particular time. Very many of us lost our living on heavy wagons for many unfortunate reasons: sickness, changing to seasonal psv driving, etc; men who have driven tankers, rigids and articulateds have been forced to take other less remunerative jobs to make a living.
I was on a 32-ton articulated tanker for over half of the six months period but I was refused a licence after almost 40 years' driving all types of vehicles, even tanks in the Forces.
I have heard it said the idea was to get the cowboys off the road and improve driving standards all round. After three years of new regulations and new drivers I think the law should be reassessed after seeing some of the shocking driving whilst on my holidays, because there seem to be more cowboys now than ever before.
I am driving a double-decker bus on a lower income than I had on the tankers but I certainly don't see why we unlucky chaps should have to be thrown on the scrap heap when lots of us have much to offer in the role of drivers and of fidelity of service.
E. TEMPLETON, Morecambe, Lancs.