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ptimism in agricultural sector
Page 37
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It isn't long &rice grain hauliers were selling vehicles as fast as they could in response to less work and lower rates. Last year's annual survey by the Home Grown Cereals Authority (HGCA) revealed that rates for UK journeys had fallen by 3% at a time when costs were going up because of fuel and wages.
The HGCA's latest annual figures are certain to reverse that position, partly because the price of grain has shot up, but also because hauliers pulling out of the business have left fewer trucks available to carry cereals.
taffordshire agricultural haulier Ed Weetman had to cope with the loss of his business with British Sugar, which closed two sugar beet factories last year, but he remains optimistic: "We've already seen a slight increase in rates around 5% — and I expect that to continue in 2008."
There is no indexing of haulage rates to the price of grain but the shortage of trucks means that market forces, for once, are working in favour of agricultural hauliers.
VVeetman got rid of six vehicles when British Sugar shut down its factories but has since added three to carry grain, bringing the total Weetman fleet to around 40.