A& 1 " Redland scheme hits harder
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• A Welsh owner-driver says he has joined the group of companies which could be forced to close down because they are part of Redland Distribution's Independent Contract Haulier Scheme.
Glamorgan-based Mike Miller, who works out of Redland's Taff Wells depot and transports stone from Hafod Quarry in South Wales, says he is suffering from bad rates and lack of profitable backloading opportunities.
"I am struggling to keep a roof over the head of my wife and two daughters," he says. "I can't cover my driver's wages and debts are boiling up. The rates I receive work out at about one pound per mile."
Miller has another vehicle working on a contract with Tipro, but he says the money earned there is absorbed by the costs of working with Redland.
Kevin Hornsby, director of southern operations for Redland, declined to discuss Miller's situation. Last month hauliers based at Redland's Thrislington depot in County Durham claimed they had been left penniless due to the ICH scheme (CM18-24 Feb). They claimed they were receiving as little as 2250 for a 460mile round trip working out of Hafod quarry.