Up go hauliers' rates!
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EXPRESS CARRIERS CHARGES RISE
• Since the beginning of 1969 the costs of express carriers of parcels and small consignments have increased by approximately 121 per cent and further increases during the year are likely to bring the total to 15 per cent. This conclusion has been reached by the rates sub-committee of the express carriers group of the RHA and all members of the group are being advised to examine their own costs and make appropriate adjustments in their rates as from January 1 1970.
The sub-committee took into account increases in wages and administration, overhead and operating costs and the extra cost of vehicle plating and testing.
As reported in CM October 17, a rise in parcels charges was foreshadowed when the express carriers functional group met prior to the RHA annual conference. At that time an increase of the order of 121 per cent was forecast as being the minimum considered by both private and State-owned companies as being necessary to offset costs.
COSTS ANALYSIS SHOWS 32% INCREASE
• Since the Road Haulage Association discontinued, in 1965, the practice of recommending blanket rate increases, hauliers' costs are estimated to have risen by 32.07 per cent. This is revealed in the November issue of the Association's journal Road Way, which quotes calculations made by Mr. W. R. Humphreys, research officer, who says that during the early part of the four-year period annual rates of increase were fairly low, but during the past two years they have amounted to about 10 per cent per year.
Mr. Humphreys goes on to say that the percentage increases of individual items as a proportion of total costs are as follows: wages 1.83; fuel 4.34; vehicle licence duty 1.6; training levy 0.66; plating and testing 5 per vehicle; costs caused by reduced carrying capacity 15; vehicle equipment 0.48; postage and telephone charges 0.6; staff salaries 0.16; vehicle depreciation 1.9, and national insurance, redundancy fund and selective employment tax 0.5. If the wage proposals in RH(89) are confirmed, total costs will be increased by another 1.6 per cent.
Since last March total costs have risen by an estimated 4.4 per cent, which, if the proposed improvements in wages and conditions are given effect, will become 6 per cent. Percentage increases in individual items are: fuel 0.7, tyres 0.6, repairs and maintenance 1.17, and other costs 1.93.
W. SCOTLAND UPRATES NEXT MONTH
• Hauliers in the West of Scotland are to raise their rates by 15 per cent from December 1. Rising costs have made this necessary, says RHA Scottish area secretary Mr. L. J. Stokoe. The decision follows recent 10 per cent increases made by a number of North of England firms.