News

The story of South African driver Hans Schlebusch is one which will interest the UK haulage industry but not necessarily surprise it. Schlebusch was working for Irish operator O'Leary International when he was told to falsify his name on his tachograph and drive beyond the legal limit on hours. What was VOSA's reaction?

Schlebusch was taken to court and fined, while O'Leary International's name was put on VOSA's Operator Compliance list - an underwhelming but unsurprising response. What  would have happened if Schlebusch had been driving for a UK company? You can bet it would have been taken out of business quicker than you could shout 'the luck of the Irish'.

No luck though. Just the continued powerlessness of VOSA to adequately enforce the regulations of the UK haulage industry on foreign operators. The time has come to develop a stronger and fairer response to such transgressions.

Consider Schlebusch's story more closely - sleeping in his truck since coming to Europe 18 months ago, no address and being paid £50 - double the wages he was earning in South Africa. Then being asked by his employer to 'drive for ten hours with insufficient rest' and all this without having a driving licence.

Who wants to be driving on the same road as him? There is a huge safety concern here which VOSA has not addressed adequately enough. There should be no name on a list, there should be action.

- It may have happened a week or so before Bonfire  Night, but transport analyst Andy Murphy's assertion that he has "lit a fire" under the backsides of TDG's directors is of immediate interest not just to TDG's health and safety officer but to the industry. Murphy suggests that TDG may be ripe for a takeover if it does not use its assets to "raise some money". David Garman rebuts the claim, stating that "Nobody's on my back". Analyst - perhaps looking to raise money for the shareholders v director - content on steering a measured path. A clash of wills or watch this space?