That 'magic' h.g.v. age ALTHOUGH I am only 201 have
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read COMMERCIAL MOTOR— which I find very thorough and fair—every week for several years.
I have never written to it before but want to get something off my chest. You reported Mr. L. R. House as saying in a speech that because drivers need to be 21 before they can obtain an h.g.v. licence, most trainable men had by that time entered another trade.
I come out in defence of this statement. Like myself, two of my "mates" can hardly wait to reach the "magic" h.g.v. age of 21. We are at present fitters on commercials, as we can't get a job as mates with reputable firms to filter into a job as first-class drivers.
We realize firms are going more now for 32-ton artics, so avoiding the extra expense of drivers' mates. And first-class firms don't want to know very young and green 21-year-old commercial drivers.
We all agree the fitting side is important to driver training but where are the firms to give us the actual chance in the driving seat of a good commercial? Anyone can get a job racing about with a worn out tipper or flat trying to earn a decent wage but we are concerned about our future as road transport drivers.
We are willing to be trained to handle a large vehicle correctly, and are ready to fight to pass the newly revived h.g.v. driver's licence test if firms—good firms with good motors—will give us a chance and not turn us down because we have only driven what are beautiful pieces of machinery in a closed yard. Please don't think that we are moaners or "cowboys"—we are keen blokes seeking a chance. W. J. SIMMONDS, Cannock, Staffs.