Entente uncordiale
Page 20
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In CM (8-14 June) I read that the French have made our Excise Committee decide against belly tanks and try to make them accept catwalk tanks instead. This country is dictated to by other governments and dumped on by losing out on revenue from foreign vehicles, while foreign vehicles quite calmly travel on British roads without paying British taxes
It makes my blood boil that small fleet operators and particularly owner-drivers are having their eyes taken out by other countries. When we enter their countries it's pay, pay, pay— but when they come to us it's help yourself to our roads.
They want to count themselves lucky that I'm not an entrepreneurial addition to our ports. I'd empty all their diesel, water, air brake fluid and trailers. I'd charge them for the delay and get other hauliers to bill them for inconvenience. I'd check them for drugs (and charge them on the spot), unload their vehicles to search (charged for) and reload them.
What a bastard, you may think. Yes. My motto is (for foreigners): "Do unto them before they do unto you." Pete Clark, Durham.