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Empty-runs revelation
Page 10
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• More than a third of Britain's operators run empty at least two journeys in five, a Commercial Motor survey reveals this week. And another 26% of hauliers make at least one trip in five without a load.
Only 23% manage to fill nine out of 10 truck journeys, with another 14% carrying loads at least 80% of the time. Only 1% run empty between 51-60% of the time, and 1% between 7180% of the time.
But the number of empty journeys across the industry has gone down, although this may reflect a decrease in overall trips. A total of 23% say they are making fewer empty journeys; 19% are making more and for 58%, the figure has stayed the same.
`Ile survey was set to gauge hauliers' performance in the light of the current economic downturn. We spoke to approximately 200 operators, of which some 150 answered our survey. More details are on page 24.
Almost two thirds, 62%, of hauliers say their customers are prepared to pay for empty running, with 90% saying they will do a trip even if it means returning without a load. And 51% lose money if
they run empty.
Over half, 54%, refuse to run trucks at cost — that is, earning just enough to cover their expenses. Perhaps most strikingly, 46% claim they are prepared to cover trips even if they do not make any money.
However, most hauliers seem to be withstanding the worst blasts of the recession, with 74% managing to keep their fleet the same size during the past six months. A vast 85%, though, do not see the haulage market improving before the end of the year.
Only 21% of employers are finding it difficult to recruit staff — indicating perhaps that their main problem at the moment is protecting existing jobs.