Industry fights fees
Page 4
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
130TH main trade associations still oppose Department of Transport proposals for a streamlined fees structure for operator licensing, but they are at odds over the fitture 0licensing of waste disposal vehicles.
The Freight Transport Association and Road Haulage Association have repeated their objections to plans for operators to be charged for the number of vehicles authorised on a licence and not just for those specified.
FTA legal controller David Green has told the DTp that many operators carry margins of between 30 and 50 per cent on their 0-licences and that the smallest operators carry 50 or 100 per cent margins.
He argues that operators need to carry margins for flexibility, and an artificial cut to avoid paying excessive fees would increase the workload
on Traffic Area staff and could affect 0-licence renewal when environmental factors are taken into account.
The MIA's view on the matter is unequivocal. -There can be no justification whatsoever for the imposition of fees for vehicles which are not hieing used.'' "Not only is it concerned that hauliers would need to pay more, but it adds: "It is particularly unfair as the proposals preclude a refiand of fee if the operator is compelled to reduce his fleet size through loss of work.
The FTA says there is "strong opposition" among its members to refunds being confined to complete periods of 12 months outstanding.
On the proposals to require waste disposal contractors to apply for standard, rather than restricted 0-licences, the two trade associations are at
odds. 1-he RHA welcomes the plan. but the FTA says this would run counter to the present means of determining what is own-account and what is hire or reward traffic. "We see no good reason for treating any specialised activity ill a different way and believe the traditional methods have worked perfectly well and do not need to be moditied.
It says that there is no case for changing the arrangements where there is no doubt that the vehicle operator owns the waste.
The RI IA is unhappy about plans to cease publishing the applications to change nominated transport managers or to change a licence from restricted to standard. "This could enable undesirable °pertors or transport managers to enter the hire or reward sector unnoticed."