The new conspicuity regulations are the last straw for me. The last morsel of respect I have for the rule makers in this industry has now gone.
 
I see 'they' (Paul Clark) are now talking about deferring the introduction of these regulations because of the cost to industry. Have 'they' gone completely insane? The cost of a few stickers is infinitesimal on the price of a new truck.
What really gets me is the total lack of thought that is behind this. In the past we have had extra lights and reflectors added, fair enough, but now we have to have reflective stickers to show the outline. How far away do you need to be able to see the side of a truck, the next county? The motorway at night is going to be ablaze with lights! You probably won't notice the cars and what chance have motorbikes got?
 
What about the real 'knights of the road' that have been so completely ignored. The best people in this industry. The people that have pride in their work and the trucks they drive! How's Captain Scarlet or the Lord of the Rings going to look with a bloody great reflective stripe through the middle of them? I spoke to one such driver, after admiring his truck, the other day. He said, *&%£ that, they're not going on.
 
And the RHA say it's too small an issue to get involved. How pompous of them. Like they are doing other things!
 
What about a bigger issue for them like - priority for trucks leaving service areas? Or is that too small too. . What about the first 18 year old to kill a family when he rolls his truck onto them at a roundabout because he's playing boy racer's. That must also be too small. The reduced age limited happened in the blink of an eye because the industry will be desperate for drivers in a few years and it is taking desperate measures to recruit them. Methods commonly used in other industries are not the way. (ie. Training/Youth opportunities)
I don't know many people that wanted to be career drivers. I got my licence in 1984 because I heard you could earn £500pw driving to Italy. (Plus c'est change. . )
Others I know drove to finance studies or wanted to pay their mortgage off in 5 or 10 years.
 
Create an industry where you can earn £1000 pw driving (eg. minimum haulage rate) and employers will be able pick the 'wheat from the chaff' and pride and professionalism will be restored naturally. Instead it is being imposed on us through the Driver CPC (The Emperors New Clothes) and more oppressive rules and regulations than you can shake a stick at.

John English has been trading for 20 years, mainly international work but more recently in the UK. he runs 4 Scania artic trucks, all unmarked white, His drivers are all British drivers with around 20 years' experience.