John MacDonald: I'm with Winston on the trains

There’s that saying that you should never waste a good crisis.  And, according to Winston Peters, the trucking companies are taking that advice and using the current fuel crisis as an opportunity to get what they’ve always wanted.  Which is a rule change to let them carry more weight on their trucks.  The Government’s looking at allowing that as part of its response to the fuel situation, saying it would mean the truckies using less diesel.  But Winston Peters say he’s not on board with that, and we should be making greater use of rail. And I agree with him.  In fact, I've long held the view that it’s crazy the number of trucks we have on our roads and that we should be transporting more stuff on trains.  It’s crazy we have so many trucks because our roads, generally, are pretty tinpot, aren’t they?   Tinpot roads are not designed to cope with those heavy trucks. Let alone heavier trucks if these changes go through.  Which is exactly the point the NZ First leader is making today about increasing the weight limits for trucks so they can carry more on each trip.  Winston Peters says: “these weight limits are put there for good reasons, because of potholes and bridge strength and what have you."   And what makes this even crazier, when you think about it, is the government is also talking about pressing pause on fuel tax increases next year.  So, on one hand, it wants to let trucks carry more weight - which would undoubtedly mean more damage to the roads - and it wants to stop the fuel tax increase which would mean less money to fix the roads.  How does that stack up? Answer: It doesn’t.     What’s more, Winston Peters is accusing the freight industry of using the fuel crisis to get what it wants.  He’s saying today: "this isn't the first time the trucking industry's tried this on."  I can’t verify this for sure, but I'll take Winston on his word when he says that trains are two-and-a-half times more fuel efficient than trucks.  He’s also saying today, as the Minister for rail, that there are thousands of wagons available.  So is he on to something? I think he is. And I think we need to see rail as a solution not just to any fuel shortage we might have to deal with in the short term - but long-term, as well.  On an ongoing permanent basis, less trucks and more trains.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.