Communities and Lorry Drivers Need More Dialogue
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Communities and Lorry Drivers Need More Dialogue


 There has been discussion in the road transport sector recently regarding how to deal with truck weight breaches on the road. Some associations are questioning the traditional approach of imposing heavy fines. Local Councils Set to Introduce Fines Local councils tend to impose heavy fines on haulage workers who are caught breaching their weight limit. The Road Haulage Association (RHA) has initiated a debate by proposing that this might not be the best way to deter this sort of behaviour, and they have proposed some alternatives. They feel that fining lorry drivers would be too punitive and that instead of fines, there should be better communication. The RHA was prompted to take a view on the issue in the face of recent criticisms that the Local Government Association (LGA) issued against the transport sector.

The LGA called for powers to fine lorry drivers carrying loads that exceed their weight limit, causing damage to the infrastructure and quality of life in small towns and villages. Current Fine Framework There is already a framework in place in some areas in the United Kingdom for fining heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) when it comes to weight and height restrictions, specifically on smaller roads. In Wales, the Traffic Management Act allows local governments to implement such fines. London also has similar powers in place. The LGA wants the implementation of these laws to be devolved to local authorities throughout the country since the police lack the resources to do so on any consistent level. The RHA has also highlighted the issue of implementation. There are several ways the government can discourage lorry drivers to breach their weight and height limit; however, often the tools to actually enforce these methods are not present. While big cities like London have a large array of cameras in place that can be used for enforcement, smaller cities and towns do not have such tools, making it much harder to tackle the problem. A Better Solution The RHA advises a shift from an exclusively punitive top-down approach to a system of collaboration and dialogue to address the problem.

By encouraging and enabling local community groups to enter into discussion with business owners and local logistics firms, solutions that everyone can buy into are more likely to be found. Not only would this approach be more effective, but – according to the RHA – it would also be more affordable and more sustainable in the long term. Better signage is another way to tackle the issue, according to the RHA. Lorry drivers are very reliant on signs, and so local councils must ensure that the signs in their area are easily visible and placed in correct areas. Haulage workers need to be clear about the height and weight limits of the area in which they are driving so that they don’t end up breaking the regulations accidentally. The discussion is set to continue, but it is clear that there is no single solution to this problem. A mix of better communication and incentives, along with a collaborative approach, will ultimately reduce the incident rate and improve the quality of life for both the haulage worker and the local resident. Author Plate Norman Dulwich is a Correspondent for Haulage Exchange, the leading online trade network for the road transport industry. Connecting logistics professionals across the UK and Europe through their website, Haulage Exchange provides services for matching haulage work with available drivers. Over 5,000 member companies are networked together through the Exchange to fill empty capacity, get new clients and form long-lasting business relationships.

3 Ways in Which an Airstream Can be the Best Way to Run Your Food Truck Business
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3 Ways in Which an Airstream Can be the Best Way to Run Your Food Truck Business


 
Business If you are thinking about entering the food industry business, a very common question that is quite likely to come to your mind is whether you want to invest in a sit-down restaurant or should you indulge in a food trailer, cart, or truck. With an increase in the expenses, busy schedules, mobile lifestyles, and demand for food-on-the-go, food trucks or carts have become immensely popular especially amongst the youth. Most of the restaurant businesses fail due to bad location, inexperience, lack of funds, or inventory mismanagement. And food trucks serve finger-licking food which is easy to carry on your way to work or convenient for the simple lunch or dinner takeaway. So, if you want to take the plunge into running a business of your own in the food industry, you should purchase a well-built, beautifully designed, and functional airstream which can bring your food dreams to life on wheels. There are several companies that can offer you good quality airstreams, and you can personalize your own airstream according to your needs and taste.

Not only are they sturdy and made of weather-resistant materials so that you can run your business even in the adverse weather conditions which are a must for mobile businesses like this, but the airstreams also have well-decorated interiors equipped with latest and modern facilities that will further enhance your food business. So, here we have put together a few reasons why you must invest in a custom airstream for your food truck business. Take a look.  1. Low Investment Compared to a sit-down restaurant, a food truck in an airstream is a much lower investment because you don't need to buy the land or farm. All you have to do is outfit your airstream with the right equipment such as grillers, heat lamps, exhausts, or other cooking equipment that you may need. Moreover, you will also have a low operation cost when it comes to an airstream. You don't need to hire a lot of staff such as servers, cleaners, kitchen managers, cashiers, and several cooks. You just need to pay for one chef, food supplies, and gas when it comes to major expenses. And your property taxes will also be much lower.

And furthermore, maintaining a restaurant including its furniture, electrical appliances, decor, pipe works, etc require a lot of time and money, which is much lower in an airstream.  2. Attractive Food Concept Along with the good food quality which also varies from business to business, a food truck has become a rage nowadays owing to the attractive and cool appeal it exudes. And an airstream can further contribute to this unique idea. You can just find a company offering a custom airstream for sale and then design your airstream in any which way you want. Usually, food trucks or trailers should not be as decorated in a sleek manner like the upscale, sophisticated restaurants of posh neighborhoods. They should have a fun-loving, casual, and more street-style attitude that makes you more approachable to the customers. And that is why running your food business on wheels can be an intriguing idea that draws a lot of attention from people.  3. Changing Locations The lifeline of restaurants is dependent on the location. There are plenty of restaurant businesses that have shut down due to a poor choice of location. But with food trailer or truck business that is implemented with the help of an airstream, you need not worry about the location because this makes your business mobile. You can choose any location you want and the best part is you can again move to some other location to test your chances of higher profits. So, get started on food truck or trailer business today by quickly purchasing the right airstream from a reputed company. Author Bio: Ben Hill, a lifestyle blogger, here writes on how a custom airstream can be the best way to run your food truck business. He suggests resorting to a company offering a custom airstream for sale at the earliest.

Truck Driving Truths that are Stranger than Fiction
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Truck Driving Truths that are Stranger than Fiction


Business There’s no doubt we’ve all witnessed some pretty weird things happening in the course of carrying out our haulage jobs. Of course, the best thing is that they make great stories to share with incredulous friends and family. For your entertainment, we’ve collected four crazy-but-true stories from our colleagues across the pond. Spider Senses Arachnophobes look away now - this story is not for you! A lady trucker was driving across Arizona one day when a bunch of leaves blowing across the road caught her eye. However, as she got closer she realised that the ‘leaves’were actually a large group of migrating tarantulas. There were thousands of them! It gets worse because the trucker had to drive straight through this mass of spiders! The squashed legs and bodies of the tarantulas were so slippery she had to slow right down until she cleared the group. Spine-shivering stuff… A Delicious Surprise We’ve all had those haulage jobs where we’ve had to transport something a little weird.

Well, this is the story of a trucker who had to pass through the Rocky Mountains with a truck full of whipped cream. Our friend had been given a route to follow, but thought he could save some time by taking a different road – the proverbial ‘short cut’. He happily drove through the Rockies, no doubt admiring the lovely scenery, not stopping until he reached the other side. When it came time to stop for a break he decided to check on his cargo - but when he opened the back he was confronted with absolute chaos. The pass he had chosen was so high, the pressure had popped all the lids off the whipped cream and the inside of his truck was coated in it. A delicious disaster! Choo-Choo! One truck driver had a particularly terrifying experience when crossing some train tracks. Due to high, thick trees lining the road he couldn’t see whether a train was approaching, so he slowly made his way out onto the tracks, following the lead of the rest of the traffic on the road.Glancing to the left, he caught sight of an oncoming train, lights flashing, only forty yards away. Terrified, he slammed his foot down and sped over the tracks as fast as he could manage. Once safe he looked behind and realised that he had just passed a rail yard with a train parked safely out of the way. He drove off,no doubt feeling a little foolish – but, hey, better safe than sorry. Hot, Hot, Hot Drivers with haulage jobsin the Rockies always seem to have the craziest stories to tell. This one comes from a trucker who was new to the mountains, so he was taking it nice and steady.

As hemade his way downhill,a truck sped past him in the left-hand lane (the wrong side for Americans!). Of course, this was mad behaviour on the treacherous roads at any time, but to make it worse,the vehicle’s brakes were on fire! Our Good Samaritan quickly picked up his radio and made a call to the driver: ‘Hey, your brakes are literally on fire!’ The mystery driver coolly replied, ‘I know,’ as he sped out of view. As he continued down along the route, theconcerneddriver didn’t pass an accident or in fact any sign of trouble - but he did see a discarded fire extinguisher at the base of the mountain. It remains a mystery… Do these stories remind you of anything you’ve experienced out on the roads? Even though ourhaulage jobs are 90% predictable, the other 10% can be completely crazy. But don’t we just love it that way? Author Plate Norman Dulwich is a Correspondent for Haulage Exchange, the leading online trade network for the road transport industry. Connecting logistics professionals across the UK and Europe through their website, Haulage Exchange provides services for matching haulagejobs with available drivers. Over 5,000 member companies are networked together through the Exchange to fill empty capacity, get new clients and form long-lasting business relationships.