Scottish hauliers say farmers are poachin
Page 10
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
by Sally Nash
The row over whether JCB Fastracs should be classified as trucks has reared its head again with agricultural hauliers in Scotland saying they are being forced out of business as a growing number of farmers use Fastracs for hireand-reward work.
Coal and hay haulier Ironside of Gardenstown is just one company which reckons that the growing grip of the Fastrac will have a devastating effect an hauliers. -Haulage will disappear or transport firms will have to move out of the area," says Sandy Ironside. "More and more is being done by agricultural contractors."
Fastracs can do 45mph carrying loads of up to 14 tonnes, but farmers using them do not need 0-licences. They are exempt plating and testing: drivers do not even need an HGV licence.
Ironside adds that this allows farmers to under-cut hauliers' rates.
Another haulier in Aberdeenshire echoes his warning, claiming that many agricultural contractors in his area are using their high-performance Fastracs for third-party haulage.
"There are too many of these vehicles going about, taking jobs which lorries should be doing[ he says. -Lorry owners pay the full price for licences and can't get work. JOB owners pay
very little licence fee and get all the work by under-cutting lorry owners." He reports that at least seven agricultural contractors in his region are using Fastracs for hire-and-reward work-with one of them doing work "all over the North-East".
A transport lawyer agrees that "a lot of farmers are swinging the lead" over this issue. He points out that agricultural motor vehicles, including the Fastrac, should only be used for agricultural purposes, although users would probably not fall foul of the law if they "occasionally" pulled a third-party load.
s In February last year farmer Gareth Jenkins from Ferndale Mid-Glamorgan was fined £300 for using a Fastrac and trailer without an 0licence to haul spoil from a Welsh Water Authority site.