McAlpine lifts rates
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by Steve McQueen • The quarry products division of Alfred McAlpine has increased rates for drivers of its 150 subcontracted tippers by up to 5%; the vehicles are operated by both owner-drivers and haulage contractors.
Drivers of the 12 eightleggers owned by the Wrexham-based haulage company will receive a similar rise.
Alf red McAlpine Quarry Products has agreed to the increases because of a shortage of tipper operators, says commercial director Ian Stewart: "There's absolutely no surplus vehicles available at all and this has been the major reason for the rise."
Stewart also reports a modest increase in demand for dry stone and coating products, despite the cuts to the national roads building programme announced two weeks ago.
A source at McAlpine says that the rise was negotiated without industrial action by the operators who, he says, are finally in a position to flex their muscles because of the shortage of vehicles and drivers.
National Owner Drivers Association general-secretary Mick Binns says: "I'd be delighted if this proves to be a national trend. It's not before time—I have not heard of any increases anywhere else for some time."