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Rates rise in the East
9th August 2007, Page 8
9th August 2007
Page 8
Page 8, 9th August 2007
— Rates rise in the East
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CUT-PRICE competition from the former Eastern Bloc has caused many British hauliers to pull out of Continental work — but now UK firms importing items from the East are reporting that local operators have increased their rates by up to 40% in the past six months.
One reason given is that operators in the accession states started working across the Continent using cheap used trucks from Western Europe. But now they are buying new, or newer, trucks in increasing numbers. This is also leading to longer lead times in Western Europe. This growth in demand extends as far east as Russia.
At the same time running costs in Eastern Europe are being forced up by rising fuel prices and wage rises caused by driver shortages as drivers head west.