Tony Blair Quits! Truck Driver elected New Prime Minister

[chef]

OK we’re in Chefland now…Tony Blairs just quit (I wish!) and you’re the new Prime Minister. What changes would YOU make for the benefit of this (f)ailing industry?
Here’s a couple… Remove all truck parking charges from MSAs, Every city required to provide truck parking facilities, TruckWorld at Thurrock to be used as a nuclear test site…

[kalm2kaos]

If you live less than a mile from your kids school, then you are not allowed (under some penalty or other) to use a vehicle to get them, or pick them up.

[simonrs2k]

Restrict cars to 56mph and they can only use the inside lane, and up hgv speed limits to 70mph see how them [zb] like it

simon

[the_flying_foden]

bring a road toll in for none uk based trucks , and bring the tank shine back .just to level the playing field abit

jeff

[rob_k]

Fit Paddy-proof speed limiters on all Eire/NI registered trucks

[… especially those belonging to Reids]

[simonrs2k]

the flying foden:
bring a road toll in for none uk based trucks , and bring the tank shine back .just to level the playing field abit

jeff

No No No just ban foreign trucks

[Lasurazes]

Heres what Id do.

1. Ban timed deliveries on the road.
2. Bring back the 11.5 hour day and 8hr daily driving rules.
3. Insist all councils must provide more than adequete parking places.
4. Where no weighbridge is available at a loading point, hold the consignor, not the driver responsible for any overloads.
5. Rule that MSA’s have drivers cafe’s like they used to.
6. Relax planning laws to enable enterprising people to open drivers facilities in the needed places.
7. Reduce the taxation on fuel for HGV’s to a level feild with the EU, better yet, less than them.
8. Charge non domestic vehicles for using our road network.
9. Remove the link between licenses to ensure drivers do not lose their HGV, unless they are caught breaking rules in them, not personal transport. Car drivers do not have a dual penalty such as this.
10. Hold the operator of the vehicle solely responsible for matters of finance such as tax, Insurance and the replacement of tyres. In fact, anything that is realistically beyond the drivers control.

Well, theres a start anyway.

Mal.

[v8_karl_v8]

Rob K:
Fit Paddy-proof speed limiters on all Eire/NI registered trucks

[… especially those belonging to Reids]

spoilsport

[cabhopper]

Good list Mal. I would add the following;
Police to get out of their canteens and crack down on dangerous driving.
Police responsible and forced to keep traffic flowing (rather than current philosophy which appears to be stopping as much as possible for as long as possible)

[colingl]

Abolish Road Tax altogether for all vehicles.

Increase tax on all fuels (petrol, diesel CNG & LPG) to make up the shortfall - but allow UK based hauliers to reclaim all VAT and some tax back on fuel bought. Ensure all tax raised from fuel is spent on road systems.

Bring in a laws in which all vehicles must show a valid current insurance disk -similar to displaying a tax disk just now.

Put onus on ferry/train companies on preventing illegal immigrants and fine them if any are found in the same way airlines are currently penalised.

Make all Council road planners sit in a wagon for a couple of days (or drive) and show tjem how dangerous some of the junctions, mini roundabouts and traffic calming measures are for HGVs to negoiate due to their stupidity and lack of understanding of space and width required by either a rigid or an artic.

Thats a start anyway.

[muckles]

I’d place the country on flotation gear and then we can move further north in the winter so we can really learn how to handle snow and I can learn to ski. then we move somewhere dry and warm when the weather starts getting just yuk!
I’d make lane 1 an HGV only lane including when entering a leaving a motorway. Any other vehicle able to get onto the motorway without using lane1 deserves the chance to use a clear lane 3.
Make anybody who wants a 4x4 prove they have to have a vehicle with off road capabilities.

[muckles]

HGV drivers get the same status as Premiership footballers and pop stars and we will need agents to sort out our pay deals, Dam! that 15% they get. When we park up at night at the new nightowl truckstops run by Peter Stringfellow we will have to run thje gauntlet of paperatzi and star struck babes. It’ll be a really tough life! I’ll be really glad to go back to my 30 room mansion and model wife at the end of the week. Wonder if the night out bag will fit in the back of a Ferrari.

[alan_1]

Make the owning a 7.5 ton horse box a criminal offence.

[r_slicker]

ban caravans untill the drivers take a class 1.

[colingl]

Limit JCB Fastracs to 70mph

[simonrs2k]

ban driving agencies

(simon takes cover and gets ready for the abuse)

simon

[qhunter]

Colingl:
Limit JCB Fastracs to 70mph

PMSL

[cannonball]

I HOPE YOU HAVE GOT MY P.M REGARDING YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT CARAVANERS.

[jb]

dont upset the caravanners for gawds sake . its worse than calling irlamsdriver “mate”

[unionjack]

right then heres my tuppence hapethingy:

1. PULL OUT OF THE EEC.

2. HGV drivers can only work 12 hours in any 24 hour period.

3. NO HGV on road at weekends (except VITAL perishables) 1st offence £1000 fine.

4. Speed limit set at 100kph 1st offence over 100kph £500 zero tolerance.

5. Foreign trucks would be allowed on our roads on production of All relevant details Same as uk trucks & levvy on daily road use set at £10 per day.
   Subject to reload details.

6. Transport rates will be set regionally & nationally.

7. More transport movements at night through GPS tracking you will be chaged less road tax & fuel tax for making more night movements.

8. ALL MSA WILL PROVIDE ADEQUATE SERVICES FOR DRIVERS< to include free parking, showers etc.

9. Cheaper road fund license through GPS tracking …ie the more you use your truck the more you pay.

10. Any one NOT owning a VOLVO or SCANIA will be charged double