More diesel price misery
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by David Craik • Three more established hauliers, one with 100 years' trading behind it, have been hit by the recent diesel price hikes. One is selling up; a second is in administration; and a third has sold most of its fleet.
Twenty-five drivers will lose their jobs at Peter Halley Transport of Crieff in Perthshire; 23 jobs have gone at County Durham's David McCune & Son; and in Staffordshire Dave Lawrence Haulage has auctioned off threequarters of its trucks.
Alexander Allan, director of Peter Halley Transport, says his entire fleet of 30 tractors and 33 trailers will be sold at auction on 18 July. "We have been in business for 100 years," he says. "But because of the rise in diesel prices over the past couple of years and low rates we cannot continue." All 36 employees will be made redundant.
Three weeks ago David McCune & Son went into administration: recent rises in diesel prices were described by administrator Harrisons of Reading as a "contributory factor". The company has a licence for 34 vehicles. It has laid off 23 employees but is confident of surviving. Two of its tractors and 30 trailers will be sold by tender on 7 July.
Dave Lawrence Haulage, which has been moving plant and machinery in Uttoxeter since 1934, has reduced its fleet from 12 vehicles to three. "The diesel hikes have really hit us in the past year," says Lawrence. He hopes to keep his drivers on in "some capacity" and is determined to stay in the industry.
C Earlier this week Goole-based LAR Distribution put five tractors and four trailers up for sale after it ceased trading.