• COMMENT
Page 3
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• "The haulage industry is notorious for extended credit terms. In times such as these when the cost of money is so high it is crippling to the smaller businesses." This depressing messsage from the latest business survey on late-payers (see page 12) will no doubt be greeted with a universal: "Tell us something we don't know."
It is no surprise to learn that when it comes to late-paying customers road hauliers are saddled with some real stinkers.
The real mystery is why hauliers let their customers get away with it in the first place. According to the RHA's director of operations many are reluctant to take customers to court because it affects their relationship. But what kind of relationship keeps you waiting 85 days for payment on a 30-day invoice?
If hauliers spent more time and money on customer credit checks, like those provided by the Transport Users Group, then they'd avoid a lot of problems.
It probably wouldn't hurt to say no more often. It's just like saying no to working for lossmaking rates, skimping on maintenance, or bending every rule in the book just because "everybody else does it".
If "everybody else" dug their heels in and refused to work for a customer unless they paid on time would the haulage industry be at the top of the debt league?