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148 
REFUSING TO GIVE IN: PAUL ARTHURTON TRANSPORT
Page 20
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A number of smaller hauliers tell tales of dogged persistence in the face of adversity. Paul Arthurton, owner of Norfolk haulier Paul Arthurton Transport, says that the firm is 'still alive, still ticking" despite the fact that business "fell off a cliff" at the end of last September.
Similar to AJ Cocks, Arthurton saw big contracts fall away, with one packaging company providing SO% less work than usual when things were at their worst, and, unsurprisingly, the business of carrying bricks completely dried up.
But like many, Arthurton says that things are not as bad now as they were a few months ago for him and the 11 drivers he employs.
He says: "We nearly had to lay people off, but we just stuck at it, mainly because I've got brilliant drivers who suggested other sources of work, but also because I'm a stubborn old gitl And now it certainly feels as if it is getting better. Work is starting to build up again."
It is still tough out there, though. One theme that is continuing, says Arthurton, is that work tends to slacken off at the end of each month. This appears to be because firms are reluctant to receive deliveries at that time. Arthurton believes this is because companies have to pay for goods received at the end of the month following delivery, which means that they have a longer time to pay if they take goods at the beginning of any given month rather than at the end.