David Preston, Managing Director Prestons of Potto

The British Road Transport industry has never had a good image in the eyes of the public. However, the current demand for reality television programmes may be able to change this.

The Canadian Ice Road Truckers show seems to have captured the imagination of the average viewer. In fact more people seem to be talking about this programme than 'Dancing on Ice' with its celebrities and skimpy outfits. Whilst Suzanne Shaw is certainly better to look at than the 'polar bear' after a while one twirl on the ice looks pretty much the same as the next and whilst slipping on the ice may be painful, it does not have the same danger as breaking through the ice on a frozen Canadian lake.

The Canadian truckers do seem to not have the same driver's hours regulations as ourselves, driving for 30 to 40 hours at a time with the 'dash for cash' as the main motivation and not a digital tachograph in sight. Speed cameras are also not needed. Excess speed is self-policing as it causes a bow wave in the ice resulting in cracks in the ice road and a penalty far worse than 3 points and a £60.00 fine.

The antics of these drivers when securing their loads would leave the UK Health and Safety Manager in need of rehab but with frostbite setting in after 15 minutes; speed of operation is paramount.

I wonder if the programme has tempted any UK drivers to move to Canada. The ice roads are wide and congestion free, although tea caravans and lay-bys were somewhat scarce. The offloading crew at the diamond mines certainly seemed more grateful than your average grocery distribution centre that their load had arrived with no chance of a refusal if you were an hour late.

The drivers are certainly a hardy bunch sometimes driving trucks with no heating in temperatures of -50°F unlike some of their British counterparts who would not drive a truck in the height of summer without a heater capable of creating sauna type temperatures. Perhaps if global warming as some scientists predicts creates arctic temperatures in the UK (we are on the same latitude as Canada) ice roads may solve the UK congestion problem.

The river Thames used to freeze solid in 17th century and would provide a useful back up to the M4. However in our country they would probably put tollbooths on it and the Greater London Council only allow vehicles pulled by reindeer to use it.

Founded over 50 years ago Richard Preston and Son Ltd is one of the most recognised transport companies in the UK. Better known as Preston's of Potto it is a multi faceted transport company operating over 220 vehicles. Preston's has 4 depots throughout the UK serving most sectors of the industry. Preston's offers a large amount of warehousing and also provides total management solutions for its varied clients.