Freight drivers suggest red tape cuts

Date: 28/6/2011

As part of the government's Red Tape Challenge, members of the public and professionals within the transport industry were recently invited to share their views on what rules and regulations governing this sector could be cut.

This request was duly heeded by the Freight Transport Association (FTA), which has identified a number of areas where it believes a removal of current guidelines could be effective.

Among these are the Working Time Directive, the current age limit for vocational drivers and the London Lorry Control rules - all of which could be wasting time and money, according to the group.

The London Lorry Control scheme places restrictions on the movement of such vehicles through the capital during weekends and at night.

In terms of this, the FTA notes that an urgent review is required in order to encourage more operators to invest in quieter carriers and to remove some of the restrictions they could face during next year's Olympic Games.

It adds that the age limit for vocational motorists in the freight industry should be lowered to 17 and that the weight threshold for trucks impacted by the Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations be increased from 2,500 to 3,500 kgs.

Theo de Pencier, Chief Executive Officer of the FTA, says: "As sector champion for logistics, we saw the Red Tape Challenge as a golden opportunity to put forward our considered views on how to cut red tape and save the industry time and money."

This week (June 24th), the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills called on regulators to offer their opinions on any rules that may be placing an unnecessary burden on businesses and the public.

Posted by Mary Treen