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Barrie Tozer from the Truckersworld website is calling for all vehicles and drivers to be checked when they enter the country in a bid to keep dangerous foreign trucks off UK roads.

This follows the BBC TV programme Real Story in October  which highlighted the poor condition of many foreign trucks in the UK and drivers exceeding hours' limits. Tozer has fired off a hard-hitting letter to Transport Minister Stephen Ladyman accusing the minister of complacency over the mounting safety concerns.

As a way of improving the situation, Tozer has suggested setting up checkpoints at ports with VOSA teams of three: one to focus on the driver (looking at his records and making sure he can understand basic road signs); one to check the vehicle's appearance; the third to use a weighbridge and check if the vehicle was overloaded.

The truck would then be sent in one of three directions: left, if the vehicle needed further investigation; straight on, to enter the UK; or right, to the ferry home.

"I think this would only take around a minute per lorry and would help get rid of foreign cowboys," says Tozer. "It's no use Ladyman saying  he doesn't have the resources - the government could use the money being made from speed cameras to carry out the checks."

Tozer has also sent copies of the letter to Shadow Transport Secretary Chris Grayling and Shadow Transport Minister Owen Paterson.