Tipper demise fears
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THERE are fears in the tipper industry that the eight-wheeled rigid tipper is moving towards extinction as the 25 tonne tri-axle articulated lorry sets the standard of the market.
Complaints are surfacing from leading operators that tipper rates are geared more to wards the 25 tonne rate — so bringing down the rate per tonne.
This is making it more difficult for the rigids to find work, although they are more suited to work on uneven ground and involving awkward reversing.
While traditional rigid tipper customers such as road stone manufacturers and the National Coal Board are suffering lean times, it has been pointed out that when they recover there may be a lack of the rigid type.
Last month's Budget also highlighted the problems rigid tipper operators are having.
CM calculated that it added around £570 a year to the running costs of a 30-tonne rigid which covers 50,000 miles at 7mpg.
Tax increased by up to 29 per cent for rigids and there was the universal 3.5p increase per gallon for pump derv.