Does profit come before lives?

[pdq1]

HGV speed limit to be raised

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20268743

[wardlaw]

Interesting comment pdq1. On a three lane motorway it is illegal for articulated vehicles to use lane 3. On single carriage trunk roads driving at 40mph would bring the country to a standstill. It is only the big companies eg Morrison's et al whose drivers must stick to the limit or face the sack. Given the technology in HGVs today 40mph is IMHO is nonsensical.

[boxtops]

It's out for consultation until February (that article says). If you feel strongly that the limit should be lifted, or not, write to them.

[sddsddean]

The reason Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury etc trucks drive at 40 is because they are all fitted with trackers so the base can monitor them. If they get caught by base for doing over 40 they have a black mark put against them. I've got friends who drive for both Tesco and S'bury and they say even if you pull into a layby for a pee, the phone will go to find out why you have been stopped for 2 minutes in case you are being hijacked! Thats a real spy in the cab!

[TWR]

I would call that intimidation Sdd, I once had a traffic clerk who though he was clever, he kept ring me to ask how long it would take me to get from Teesside to Queensferry, I said each time you ring me I have to stop for safety so you judge for yourself how long its going to take! the phoned stopped ringing. regards the Trackers, with the cost of cargo that HGVs carry, a lot more are on trackers for safety & reduce Insurance costs.

[Hopkirk]

I have driven for Tesco and Sainsbury's, sddsdean, and that is not true.

Certainly with Sainsbury's if you park up for too long, then at the debrief they will ask why, but as long as it is a reasonable time (6 - 8 minutes) nothing is said. At Tesco, they didn't even do that.

Also they don't have real time trackers, but can call up a view of where you have been if there is an investigation.

[douglas9401]

That might be the M9 Prudie. That ends at Dunblane/Bridge of Allan and the A9 carries on north from there.

[sddsddean]

I'll have to quiz them again then Hopkirk...haven't seen them for a couple of months and thats how they told me it works. Perhaps different RDC's have different rules?, especially as they are all run by different logistics companies nowadays.