Overdrive forecast
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THIS YEAR may not be too prosperous for road hauliers, according to the latest survey of leading employers carried out by Overdrive, the temporary driver agency.
This contrasts with the rest of Britain's industry which is looking "the most favourable for employment for any first quarter of the year since 1979," says the survey.
Overdrive says that only slightly more road hauliers plan to increase their workforce in the next three months to the end of March than forecast losses. The situation is worse than this time last year.
Twenty per cent expect to take on drivers and other workers. This has fallen from 25 per cent in 1984.
Even though Overdrive predicts fewer being taken on, the number of companies making cutbacks is slightly higher than last year's survey.
Now 12 per cent of employers expect losses. Last year the figure was 10 per cent.
The relative depression which Overdrive says it has identified is probably correct according to the Road Haulage Association.
A spokesman said: "We don't disagree, but we hope they're wrong". A Confederation of British Industry survey has just pointed to a slight downturn of the economy in the coming quarter compared to the same time last year. He said road haulage acts as a barometer for the whole economy.
In contrast, says Overdrive, 24 per cent of companies throughout Britain plan staff increases over the next quarter; 18 per cent expect increases this time last year.
Staff cuts are forecast by 13 per cent of companies while at the same time last year 17 per cent of companies were predicting staff losses.
Generally, while the economy is still very weak prospects have slightly improved. Manufacturing is showing a slow but very significant rate of improvement in recruitment, Overdrive says.
For the services sector "relatively strong recruitment activity is still forecast".
Overdrive concludes that the public sector is still in deep recession, but local government is showing a steady upswing in job opportunities.
• Heavy traffic was up just one per cent in the third quarter of 1984 (July to September) compared with the same period in 1983 says the Department of Transport.