Industry is on mend says report
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HAULIERS are now more optimistic about the future than at any time since the 1974 recession, according to a new report compiled by the Manpower organisation.
Lance Secretan, managing director of the Manpower group commented: "Most of the industry appears to have started 1977 much better than it did the first quarter of last year. Many firms are telling us that their new year business has been maintained at preChristmas levels."
The report was compiled from a survey conducted by the Overdrive section of the business which specialises in finding drivers for companies.
It reveals that one company in five will cope with the extra work by taking on short term agency drivers or by sub-contracting. One company in four intends to increase its own driving staff.
But Mr Secretan warned that many of the 1,589 companies (with over a million staff) covered by the survey said that it was too early to tell if the swing to more work will continue.
Companies that intend to continue to sub-contract say that they are doing so because of continuing uncertainty of business — otherwise they would invest in new vehicles and more staff.
The survey also revealed that hauliers are taking a more social approach to their work and are refusing to take on more staff while the current economic situation is uncertain.
Mr Secretan said that the levels of staff in the haulage business have remained pegged throughout 1976 following rises in vehicle prices and rate cutting which had left the small firm with little room to maneouvre.,