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COMMENT

8th January 1998
Page 7
Page 7, 8th January 1998 — COMMENT
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

FAT LADY IN FINE VOICE

When Commercial Motor welcomed the New Year last week with a warning that the cull of UK truck operators was by no means over, we didn't expect to be proved right so soon. But already GB Express, one of the biggest international operators of recent years, has called in the receivers. No, CM doesn't have a crystal ball; in this business all you need is 20-20 hindsight. Since 1988 the number of companies holding 0-licences has fallen from 91,900 to 65,300—that's a decline of some 30% inside 10 years. Hire-and-reward hauliers have been hit particularly hard: today there are just 67% of the number there were in 1988. A major cause of this decline must be the continuing industry-wide delusion that what you don't get in profit you can replace with volume. Trading margins for volume is a no-brain option. What counts in this business is knowing when to walk away from unprofitable work—and not taking it on just because there's a lot of it. But they soy it's not over till the fat lady sings, and right now she's just warming up on her scales. We fear her finale could be devastating.

A11 praise this week must go to the RAC's "Spot a Smoker win a Metro" competition (well almost). According to an RAC spokesman many motorists feel frustrated "when they see a bus or lorry belching black fumes". Fair enough, but what about the far greater number of smoking cars and motorcycles? At least truck and bus operators are accountable through the Vehicle Inspectorate's Pollution Hotline. When will the same treatment be handed out to private motor vehicles?

• Editor's note: The 6,282 prohibitions and warnings for smoking issued to the end of March 1997 represent just 1.46% of the UK truck parc.

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