. and 13 pc next year?
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HAULIERS' wage costs are likely to rise by 13 per cent a year from 1982 to 1984, according to a five-year forecast from the Henley Centre for Forecasting.
In a review of many aspects of road freight operations, the Centre says that this year's wage round will produce settlements of around 10 per cent overall, the five to six per cent settlements for hire or reward drivers being counterbalanced by 15 per cent deals for tanker drivers and similar deals for other own-account drivers.
The Centre predicts that there will be no increase in vehicle excise duty on lorries next year, due to the recession, nor, it says, will there be any in 1983 when there may be a general election.
Instead, it says these will occur in 1982, 1984, and 1985, broadly in line with inflation, but with larger increases for the heaviest vehicles to correct the bias which favours the heaviest vehicles.
A 1981 increase is unlikely in any case, as the Transport Bill which seeks to base ved on gross vehicle weights and the number of axles is unlikely to become law before the next Budget.