Haulage costs rising 21pc a month
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ROAD HAULAGE costs rose by an average of 2ip in the £ every month between July 1974 and the end of February. This was reported by Mr K. A. Hatcher, chairman of the Road Haulage Association, in Nottingham on Wednesday.
Mr Hatcher said that it had always been one of the functions of the RHA to keep in close touch with changes in costs and this most recent survey had shown that for many members costs increases were considerably above the general figure. He urged every member to check his costs carefully against this norm and to also look at rates.
Mr Hatcher gave details of the survey. During the period under review, fuel and lubricant costs increased by 51 per cent, wages rose by 32 per cent and repairs and maintenance jumped 26 per cent.
Mr Hatcher warned customers of RHA members that if their experience of vehicle operating costs appeared to be different, then they must be failing to take into account fully some of the items which must properly be regarded as part of their transport bill.
One ray of sunshine Mr Hatcher was able to point to was that own-account customers who had cut down their fleets to make use of professional carriers, had often found that the switch had saved them money. If this was a trend, it was one which RHA members should follow up as vigorously as possible.