Hi, my name's Denis and I’m an Alc.................... Sorry wrong place!
As an owner driver working in the Agricultural Sector (mainly Livestock with a small amount of Straw and Wool) 2007 was an “interesting” year. Incompetence at the Pirbright Labs released Foot and Mouth into the wild causing severe disruption to Agriculture and the businesses that support it. As usual Hauliers were not on the list of businesses eligible for compensation for the losses suffered. Which reminds me, I must check how the RHA legal case is going.
Fuel price is another thing affecting us all, as I write this I am sitting near a garage forecourt with a sign proclaiming “Diesel 112.9” ! I almost went on a fuel protest back in November, unfortunately a customer rang wanting a couple loads of cows moved that morning so good intentions went out the window in exchange for a boost to my cash flow. At the back of my mind I know protesting will make very little difference , even if the protests were successful and Gordon Brown gave fuel to hauliers, and a free gift with every 1000 litres ,it wouldn't help much as I know most of my customers would be on the phone within minutes wanting a rate reduction . In my opinion the only way forward is to pass the costs onto the customers and talk to them so they realise the true cost of running a truck! Not an easy task, when I've sorted that maybe I can have a go at World Peace!
Driver training is affecting the livestock sector at the moment. Reading CM this week I noticed the MD of Lantra is concerned that people are not aware of the EU rules which mean every driver moving stock on journeys over 65km needs a Certificate of Competence! Speaking to people on the ground, most are aware of the requirement but are just not bothered about doing (or paying for) it !
Having done the theory part of the long distance qualification yesterday, (there are two exams – up to 8 hours and over 8 hours) It seemed to me to be a mix of questions similar to those seen on TV phone in quizzes, ordinary questions and ones where the multi choice answers were so vaguely written any of the answers could be right! Having passed, I'm now awaiting the practical assessment with great interest. Unlike the forthcoming Driver CPC there's no allowance for previous experience. I am 45, grew up on a dairy farm, have handled stock since I was big enough to do so, and have been a full time Livestock haulier for the last seven years but I still need to pass an exam to continue. I must remember to look up the origin of the phrase “teaching your grandmother to suck eggs”.
Denis Fuller is a owner operater based in the south west, running a single truck on livestock and agricutural haulage