Submerged roc in sea of rules
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PROSPECTS for hauliers and bus operators, outlined in the Government White Paper on transport published last week, still look bleak with a new sea of regulations threatened.
Vehicle manufacturers, too, must be on the lookout for new rules aimed at "civilising the heavy lorry" to make their products more expensive because of added emission and quietening equipment.
For the haulier, the White Paper says the trend towards higher vehicle taxes begun by Chancellor of the Exchequer Denis Healey in his last Budget will be continued.
The Government has already said it aims to bring British vehicle taxation into line with Europe. That, again, means more and higher charges for the operators.
And despite a House of Commons admission by Transport Minister William Rodgers that heavy lorries do pay their track costs, the White Paper claims that some vehicles pay only 60 per cent of their costs.
The Paper also hints at more rules on the numbers of axles on heavier vehicles. "Heavy lorries with few axles cause more wear and tear on roads than those whose weight is spread over a greater number of axles."
It also points to changes in the tax system so that some account may be taken of the numbers of axles. And there will be changes in the system to tax vehicles on their laden weight rather than the unladen weight as at present.
But these changes cannot be made until 1979, says Mr Rodgers. So, in practice, changes might never be made if there is a General Election.
One spark of light in the morass of bleak news in the White Paper is on the muchtalked-about prospect of a social tax. There is an admission that it would be almost impossible to calculate and, on that basis, the Government has decided it will not try to devise a special tax.
In preference to social tax, subjects including fuel econ omy and the social and environmental factors will be taken into account when, and if, the whole vehicle tax system is revised.
Budget increases in vehicle tax are cited as an example of the Government's intention "that all classes of lorry shall eventually meet, in full, the costs attributed to them."
One White Paper surprise is that there is to be no more incentive for customers to use the railways than already exist. But the current system of grants for railway sidings will be continued and could be expanded.
Mr Rodgers says every worthwhile plan for a siding will be given a grant and it seems to be a 'money no object' scheme to build more sidings. "No worthwhile scheme will be rejected on the grounds that funds are not available," says Mr Rodgers.
For vehicle builders there are tougher rules on the way to regulate design and construction and to reduce engine noise and increase safety.
Regulations on braking to reduce the chances of an articulated vehicle jack-knifing and additions in the emission controls are on the way.
The Paper also promises that EEC regulations on drivers' hours will eventually be introduced. Mr Rodgers admits that "whatever form these regulations take, they are bound to have implications for the cost of road haulage" — but there is no mention of tachographs.
And there are to be new tougher penalties for what are described as "dangerous offences" including overloading and inadequate maintenance.
Mr Rodgers is proposing a system that will make roadside spot checks on vehicles more effective and enable more stringent checks to be made on putting vehicle defects right.
A new licensing system for carriers of dangerous loads is also on the cards. To be allowed to carry such loads the operator would need to be specially qualified. Trained drivers who knol how to handle emergencie and fully qualified staffs ar among the special requir€ ments being proposed.
There may also be new rule on the packing and handling c hazardous loads from th Health and Safety Commi. sion which could cover veh cles including road tankers.
Operators' licensing is likel to become more complicate as it is revised. The Paper say the system is to be change( but there is no mention of th two-tier system that was prc posed to take the place c transport managers' licensir4 The future of the Nations Freight Corporation has bee left out of the White Paper an there is to be a separat statement from the Govern ment on new legislation t restructure the NFC.
But the corporation gets pat on the back from th Government for tackling it financial situation all improving it.
For the bus and coac industries, there is probabl more to be glad about tha there is for the freigh industry.
Rural bus services are to b supported and Mr Rodgers i to encourage more suppor from the county councils wh are to get more money fror cuts in the road programme.
Bus operators will be save a little money by the extensio of the fuel duty rebate to stag carriage services and fear that the new bus grant woul be cut out have receded — a least for a while.
The grant is to continue a its present levels to 1981, the it will be reduced until it final!: goes in 1985.
But the Government make it plain that there is no case fo subsidising inter-urban ser vices. Demand for the service is buoyant, says the Paper.
There are not the same kinl of financial problems with tilt inter-urban routes that opera tors of local bus routes facl and there is no social case for ; subsidy.
A significant comment oi Government policy toward passenger and freight opera tors is contained in the docu ment: "The way forward is fo each of the operators to tack!' their own business problem and to eliminate their deficit. by whatever mixture of pric ing, marketing or cost reduc tion is most appropriate fo them."
• Steve GeaQ