The government can't fix our problems - we're the problem
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I'VE READ YOUR editorial (Elephant in the room, CM 22 November) and your tipper subbie is right: until you have run your own business, you have no idea what a real nightmare it really is. Sadly, Hargreaves' generous' 3% rate increase, while welcome, is nothing to celebrate. It's only three pence in every pound.
I run 10 artics on pure, old-fashioned general haulage, and as I see it the industry has only itself to blame — it doesn't have the guts and grit to stand up and work for profit, it works purely on turnover; and when one haulier falls by the wayside, another takes its place.
There are companies springing up all over the place, which I call 'factory farm' freight forwarders. They send their sales force to customers large and small offering them the chance to get all their deliveries done at the infamous backload rate; then when they've got the work, it's straight onto the internet — listing the loads, sitting back and waiting for the hauliers to email, text or ring in to take the work.
It's like feeding time at the piggery. Farmer fills the trough, and the little pigs come running — and we're so desperate that we all run, taking all this work for backload rates, while the factory farm freight-loader creams a profit, with only a phone and office to fund.
I've deflected by a third this year and another two will go this Christmas. We should all stand together and refuse to work for freight-forwarders.
We cannot keep expecting the government to repair our ills; if fuel duty was reduced by 10p on Monday, I guarantee half the hauliers out there would rush to reduce their rates to gain more work by Wednesday, and 'give' the duty reduction straight back.
Paul Arthurton Paul Arthurton Transport