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Diesel costs are final straw for pair of Scottish hauliers
Page 7
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joanna.bourkerarhi.co.uk TWO SCOTTISH hauliers have been pushed to the edge by high diesel costs and had debts from collapsed clients: one has been forced to slash its workforce and fleet by three-quarters, while another has had to shut up shop.
David Hyslop, MD at Moffatbased Annandale Transport, says 24 employees, mainly liGV drivers, will go over the next few weeks, leaving just eight staff; 19 of the firm's 25-strong lorry fleet will also be auctioned off on 17 April.
"It feels like the government is trying to put us out of business. We g can't make any profit as we are -g running at a loss owing to lack of work, expensive fuel with no & rebate and competitors cutting 3 rates," Hyslop says. He adds that the family-run business -was hit extremely hard and lost a lot of revenue" on account of the snow in December and January, because it could not carry out its timber distribution service.
The downsized company will now focus on generating turnover locally and avoid, where possible, making journeys across the UK because it is not getting enough backloads to make the work financially viable.
At the same auction on the Righead Industrial Estate in Bellshill, Protruek Auctions will aim to sell Strathclyde Transport's 80-strong fleet, owing to its retirement from the haulage industry.
The family-run firm, which has been in operation for more than 30 years, says it was left with bad debts totalling £400.000 last year after clients. including Sunnymead Developments, went into liquidation.
Jed Gaffney, MD at Strathclyde Transport, tells CM: "The fuel prices have killed us and the banks have not helped. It's a case of getting out while we can and making some money while there is a demand for used trucks."