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'You can't provide an efficient service if you are not paid for it'

1st May 1997, Page 58
1st May 1997
Page 58
Page 58, 1st May 1997 — 'You can't provide an efficient service if you are not paid for it'
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Keywords : Haulage, Truck

fter five years running my own

iokhaulage business and driving regularly to Eastern Europe I am selling my four trucks and pulling out. Why? There are many reasons, but losing £18,000 last year to a bad debt was a big blow. We were working for another haulier who went bust. That debt represents my working capital—I also run a small form and I hope it does not come to losing this as well. I keep sheep, British white cattle and Galloway heifers. It's better to do this and be poor than have all the headaches of haulage.

Rates have been another problem: the rate I was getting for one jolo four years ago increased by just £200 in that time. You can't provide an efficient service if you are not paid for it. Worse still, other rates have been cut.

One of the Spanish trips we did last year has gone down by 2400. On another job we were taking sheepskins to Poland—the contractor refused to increase the rate to pay for the increase in diesel. Now they've brought Polish operators in who are prepared to do the job for £1,500, whereas we got £1,750, The floodgates have been opened to the Eastern Europeans who work for less and pay less for diesel. Then there are the strikes. We had a driver stuck for nine hours in Spain and another caught in France. But what's the point of trying to claim compensation? You will never get it, Add to this the Sunday bans in Spain and France—the corridor between Dunkirk and Belgium was always open to hauliers but now that may close. People have to get together, stick to their guns and put restrictions on foreign operators coming here. I've never considered switching to UK haulage because the rates are complete rubbish! I'm not alone in giving up—off the top of my head can name four local owner-drivers who have sold their trucks.

Although I'm selling up I hope to continue working in haulage in a transport office because I absolutely love the industry. I don't rule out setting up again if things improve and I'm not giving up my 0licence.

I was vice-chairman of my local RHA branch and they have just phoned to say, don't know what we'll do without you." My 0-licence is for 10 lorries and at one time I was running up to eight loads a week to Czechoslovakia, using my trucks and subcontractors.

The sad thing will be getting rid of the old Scania—I remember when she was bought by my previous employer where I worked as a driver. The firm was WF Miners and they're no longer in business either. Setting up my own business took a lot of effort—I've always been thrifty so financed it through savings and redundancy money. I loved the lorries and the driving. Haulage is a lovely industry to be in. It's interesting: there are some great people and there are some rogues! The right conditions have got to come back—the country can't do without road transport.

• if you want to sound off about a road transport issue write to features editor Patric Cunnane or fax your views (up to 600 words) on 0181 652 8912.

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