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Tipperrnen feel pinch
Page 27
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• Depressed rates and lack of work have hit yet another tipping specialist, with Derbyshire-based Steve Fletcher selling his fleet of tractive units, tipping chassis and bulk tipping trailers.
The company has been in the tipping business for the past 14 years but, says the company, "it is getting out while the chance is there.
"Since a big contract we had with the M40 motorway construction ended last year there has been nothing to take its place," it says. "Interest rates have risen, the price of diesel has gone up, but rates are being undercut all the time. There is too much competition and too many people are willing to cut their rates."
Steve Fletcher also runs a garage, which it intends to expand taking on more outside repair work, and it will keep a couple of tippers for guaranteed local work.
"It was a big decision to take but we think others round here will soon follow suit," says a spokeswoman.
Matlock-based Chris Loughton is also rationalising his tipper fleet in the face of reduced work. Ile runs eight tippers and is now selling three of them in order to buy one new vehicle.
"Rates are not being put up in line with diesel prices," says Loughton, "and the slowdown in the building industry is having a knock-on effect. I can keep five vehicles busy but certainly not eight."
E Transport operator Wayten has made six drivers redundant, after moving its tipper fleet to Scotland, because of a downturn in business in Yorkshire.
The Knottingley-based firm now works its six-strong tipper fleet on a slag tip in Glasgow, for four different contractors.
'Me company, which has been in tipper work for two years, says that six new drivers will have to be recruited because existing staff do not want to relocate.