Peter

I kind of agree with you there, but......... How many people do you encounter who presumably have a standard car licence yet struggle to perform the simplest manoeuvre in the smallest car available? The thought of these people being let loose in a 6 tonner is enough to strike terror into anyone.

The stats are shocking. To put them in context, in the first quarter of this year VOSA stopped 32,621 HGVs, around 25% got roadworthiness prohibitions, and 3% were overloaded. VOSA do some random stops, but as you say most of them (HGV and light vehicles) are stopped because they look dodgy.

VOSA have been self funded since 2009.

Taken from this months VOSA newsletter. Light Goods Vehicles, often known as ‘white van man’, are involved in twice as many accidents as HGVs and has an MOT failure rate of 50%. Furthermore, in VOSA checks, light goods vehicles are prohibited six out of ten times, and when weighed, these vehicles are overweight three quarters of the time. These results not only demonstrate a threat to the safety of road users, but also an unfair advantage over white van man’s HGV counterparts. That low compliance rate is even worse considering that HGVs are subjected to a significantly higher level of regulation than light goods vehicles. During 2013, VOSA are conducting a targeted programme to address this situation and raise the standards of the LGV industry. The majority who try to be compliant will be offered education and advice to enable them to achieve their goal of operating safe and compliant vehicles. A mixed tactical approach will be used to address the operator who is ignorant of the requirements. They will be subject to enforcement action at compliance checks, married to the carrot of educational assistance to enable them to raise their standards. The minority who have no desire to comply will be subject to enforcement action in an effort to force compliance. The first steps in this initiative will be a programme of checks in twenty cities throughout the year to raise VOSA’s profile with LGV operators in specific market sectors, and the first of these will be directed towards the building trade. This will be allied to cooperation with trade bodies and associations to convey the message that VOSA are determined to raise the standards of the LGV fleet through joint working, education, assistance, and if required, enforcement action.

I'm staggered, I had you pegged as a hardcore caffeine addict for some reason. You must need some sort of chemical stimulant now you've packed in the smoking?

Triple espresso at 6ish usually peels my eyelids back. Tablet is the future though, dont buy a laptop. I'll show you my system tomorrow if you want?

I find the best time is the 05.30-06.30 am slot, before the kids wake up, but I hate getting up early to do paperwork.

Excellent work as ever, well planned and executed. Bet the client has no real idea of the amount of effort that went into that.

I use an ipad for all that stuff, put the info straight into the app as the customer tells me, then email it straight from the app. Dont bother with mobile data though, once the quote is ready to send it goes into the outbox and sent automatically as soon as I pull up on the drive. (or McDonalds)

I'v had to do a big download at work too, I usually carry a little spade just in case. The only time I'v asked the customer didnt know their password.

I'm not too interested in a cv for a cutter or climber, a trial day will tell me everything I need to know. Maybe more applicable at surveyor/consultant level?

I really liked those old brown stihl boots, learned to climb and foot lock in them.

Don't forget the 5 year thing is a guideline rather than a rule.

How old is the kid? Booster cushion up to about 12 you'll be fine, no way a full size kiddy seat or a full size teenager will fit. Well, the teenager will if they fold up a bit, but it wont be comfortable.

Still going on about your puny 4 incher? Looks like a good job well done.

If your any where near Cambridgeshire I can help.

Aluminium plank looks a lot smarter than plywood, plus you can signwrite it.

PM sent.

I'v done a Pro Tipper conversion on a King Cab Mk5 Hilux, and plenty of other double cabs.

I attended last year with thoughts of exhibiting this year, but decided not to bother as the footfall was so low. If there is a future for the event at all, the organisers are going to have to do a lot of work to attract exhibitors, including assurances that it will be much more widely promoted and attended. Recovering from a poor reputation is much more difficult than establishing a good reputation from scratch, anyone who is considering attending or exhibiting will view next years proposals in the light of previous years dismal efforts. All trade shows need an extra something to make them worthwhile attending, it used to be the show special offers, but in the era of internet sales that is no longer the case. The AA show has the seminars and CPD opportunities, most shows have some sort of competitive event running, most allow camping. Capel needs added value in some form, much better and earlier publicity, and reduced exhibitor fees, imo.

Just download the standard ring tone and drill a hole in the phone.

For me, in the UK, yes. Some people do prefer the long gaffs, but I'v only used mine twice in 5-6 years.

Shorties are pole gaffs, long ones are tree gaffs. Long ones are useful for ivy covered trees and Sequoias, and not much else in my opinion.

It never ceases to amaze me what people throw away.

I have one of the blue Bosch, been excellent so far and it cuts a lot of 3mm ally as well as timber. Sent using Arbtalk Mobile App