Now is the hour . . .
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NOW is the time to mount a campaign aimed at boosting express parcels carriage, according to Road Haulage Association Express Carriers' Group chairman, Kevin Fitzmaurice.
He feels that there is much in favour of using express parcels carriers, especially in the high street, and he says that it is comforting that most customers are primarily concerned with service rather than price.
Mr Fitzmaurice still feels that rates generally are uncompetitive and uneconomic despite recently raising his company's rates schedules by 15 per cent. Rather than cut rates, Mr Fitzmaurice says that his company, Fitzmaurice Carriers of Norwich, would prefer to reduce facilities.
Atlas Express go along with Mr Fitzmaurice to an extent, agreeing that customers are demanding a high level of service while prices come a close second. In order to compete, Atlas is charging the same rates as last year.
Most of the RHA functional group chairmen share the view that rates are too low and that, in general, the industry is at a low ebb.
The theory that too many hauliers are chasing too few loads is common among hauliers themselves, one of whom thinks that only customers and drivers are benefitting. There is also a strong feeling that a reduction in interest rates would go a long way towards solving many operators' problems.