Half of hauliers lost mone
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• by Tim Maughan Some 53% of Britain's largest hauliers lost a combined total of £171m in the first quarter of 1998, according to financial analyst Plimsoll Publishing. Plimsoll's survey of 1,091 operators with at least £1.5m worth of assets found that just 34% of them managed to run at a profit during the first quarter of 1998.
Size is no guarantee of success: more than 50% of firms are feeling the strain, regardless of their turnover.
According to Plimsoll Publishing, 22.7% of the 1,091firms are "strong", meaning they have been improving their financial strength; while 10.9% are "good", which means they are maintaining their financial position.
Plimsoll Publishing has named an "elite" of 25 UK hauliers. To be in this category, companies must have an average sales growth of 16%, a 9% pre-tax profit margin and an average return on assets 0( 15%.
Amtrak Holdings was named as the most successful firm in the first quarter of 1998, with Arbuckle Smith & Co second and Atchison Topeka third.