Beet hauliers fear for their business by David Craik •
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Up to 200 small hauliers and farmers transporting sugar beet to mills across the UK will be hit hard if British Sugar decides to follow British Steel's example by contracting out the work to a reduced number of large hauliers.
Dr Steven Smith, head of technical services at the National Farmers Union, fears the rumoured plan would make "good business sense for British Sugar", but it would have a huge impact on the agricultural haulage industry. "This could lead to a number of hauliers working for larger hauliers for lower rates," he warns. Graham Houghton, the Road Haulage Association's livestock and agriculture manager, says he has heard a rumour that a "major transport company" may be in line to take the work on by itself.
And a spokesman for British Sugar confirms that the transport of sugar beet from farms to mills is "under discussion".
A number of steel hauliers found themselves subcontracted to do the same work they had handled for British Steel after the manufacturer put much of its work in the hands of a few large operators. They were paid less to do the same work: beet hauliers fear they face the same fate.