Bitter harvest
Page 6
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AGRICULTURAL hauliers face a grim year with reduced fleets, older vehicles and low rates — all on the eve of the Smithfield Show.
Soaring vehicle replacement costs are causing operators in the livestock moving sector to search for used vehicles.
Low rates are being kept down by farmers unwilling to pay higher prices. So hauliers faced with replacement costs ranging from £15,000 to £23,000 are beginning to force up the prices of used trucks.
In the west, RHA secretary Mr Joe Cox reported that calls were coming in asking about the availability of used vehicles.
He confirmed that a similar patter'n was emerging from other parts of the country. Hauliers in livestock movement were cutting their fleets.
An agricultural haulier, Mr John Redpath believed that the trouble was caused by the rates charged by operators, which were not keeping pace with inflation. And payment was not swift.
"Meat wholesalers complain that their margins are slim," added Mr Redpath, who is in business with is brother Jeff, joint chairman of the RHA agricultural hauliers' group.
"Operators are in for a rude shock when they come to replace their vehicles. They must do extra work to recover the cost of a vehicle. The rates are just unrealistic."
Markets closing down, and bigger market units taking their place, have brought their own problems. Newark operator Mr Fred Garrood told CM that, even though he has cut his fleet by six vehicles, he was hard-worked for only three days a week.
"Too many lorries are needed for operation on too few days," he added. "Markets are packing up and cattle are going to bigger centres, which also means more waiting at the markets."
RHA eastern area secretary Mr Ken Williams commented: "It's been almost impossible for some farmers to get on to their fields to harvest – the ground is almost waterlogged,' he said.