As far as I know, it is not banned. I have been taking my truck back and forth to Bruntingthorpe in Leics. for the last month or so, where 1000's of cars are stored for onward sale. Loads of platers about. It would appear, that because it is such a mecca for platers, most guys and girls know someone who is picking up a car to help them out. A lot also get taxi's from the local firms (obviously wages have gone up). Personally, the only people I will pick up nowadays are platers. I am an owner/driver, so I can do it, but most (if not all) company trucks are are not allowed to pick up passengers due to insurance conditions. As I think platers relied on truck drivers (more so than car drivers) to give them a lift, this has resulted in them having to use public transport of one sort or another. The old excuse for hitching was that if you used bus/train it was not worth doing the job...I assume the firms have upped the wages so the platers can get about without hitching.