FTA's Turner

Freight Transport Association boss Richard Turner admitted this week that had had been strongly criticised by European colleages after launching a campaign to require foreign truck drivers to tell us who they are.

"You will not believe the acerbic reaction that this attracted from our fellow trade bodies in mainland Europe. They accused me of gross xenophobia and labelled VOSA's actions as a restraint of free trade. I have been summoned to Geneva later this week to explain myself and I am looking forward to it."

He was speaking at the annual dinner of the association which was also addressed by Secretuary of State for Transport Douglas Alexander. He said little in his speech but disclosed that the Government is about to start a review of the operation of the Working Time Directive.