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Simple upgrades to on-board sat navs can make all the difference in regards to avoiding unnecessary traffic complications. If you’d ask me, it is a move hauliers, fleet managers, and the freight exchange must embrace before government legislation enforces it and begins to bring down substantial financial repercussions. Not All Are Created Equal Recently the Local Government Authority (the LGA) reported that they have been receiving an escalating number of complaints from villages and rural communities about lorry drivers taking short cuts through the countryside. On the surface, given the increased amount of traffic hauliers are seeing on Britain’s roadways, this does seem to be a clever way of avoiding hold-ups. However, if you have also chosen to cut-corners on your sat nav device, it is more than likely to be heading you into a world of trouble and expense. Cheaper car sat navs and commercial grade sat navs for lorries are not created equal. The majority of driving professionals, as found on the freight exchange, already know this gem of wisdom. The eclectic nature of Britain’s rural roadways means that although the path may be clear according to your navigation device, it may also be extremely narrow, or have low overhead bridges, or may not be able to carry the weight of your vehicles’ load. Any one of these issues could make or break your journey and could potentially cause no end of headaches for your fellow road travellers. The consequences of local government weighing in on the follies of a minority number of irresponsible lorry drivers will barely be felt by the professional industry or those utilising the freight exchange. Thankfully, fleet managers and haulage companies have long ago seen the ‘money-saving’ light and have embraced the latest navigation technology. Commercial grade sat navs are the crystal balls previous generations of HGV drivers would have killed for! Most sat navs made specifically for lorries calculate every route, taking into account the load weight, the vehicle’s dimensions, manoeuvrability, and then plots a manifesto for the driver that is both safe, efficient and as fast as possible. The Cost of Cheapness Lorry drivers who continue to flirt with disaster and rely on the insufficient information provided by a cheap car sat nav will begin to feel the wrath of the LGA as soon as legislation goes into effect. Local authorities will have the power to fine lorry drivers and their companies for violating this policy. Transportation spokesman Cllr Martin Tett, from the LGA, said: "Lorry drivers who get wedged in narrow roads or under bridges not only endanger themselves, other road users and pedestrians, but also cause massive disruption. This has a significant impact on local economies, particularly in rural areas.” "Some rural communities are fed-up with lorries ignoring weight restrictions and using their streets. The additional noise, vibration and pollution make their lives miserable." "We would stress that most lorry drivers are reputable and drive responsibly. These powers would be targeted at the minority who do not follow the law." 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 online freight exchange, Haulage Exchange provides services for matching loads and with available drivers. Over 4,000 transport exchange businesses are networked together through their website, trading jobs and capacity in a safe 'wholesale' environment.
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