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One transport sector is looking forward to the LEZ with justified trepidation — domestic removals.
Page 49
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The British Association of Removers is an environmentally responsible organisation and we fully support the Mayor's drive towards cleaner air," says BAR president Jonathan Hood."But the removals business does not conform to the business model that prevails throughout most of the road transport industry."
Hood points to the fact that removal trucks may only cover a few thousand miles a year; most of their time is spent parked outside premises This, coupled with the fact that pantechnicon bodywork can cost in excess of £70,000, explains why many removals vehicles are getting on in years "Margins are very small in a very competitive industry' Hood adds. "Around 20% of the removals fleet is owned by small family firms, which are financially weak. We estimate that around 20% of the business could be driven out of business by the LEZ."
Hood makes no bones about the effect of the LEZ on the removals sector: "Our members will have to pay the charge, because they cannot afford to operate an LEZ-compliant fleet by next February. The net effect of this will be very simple — removals costs will increase by £200 a day, and there will be no improvement in air quality."
Within the next couple of weeks the BAR hopes to announce an initiative that will see it working alongside an after-treatment equipment supplier and an asset finance company to provide abatement devices such as those offered by Eminox and Astra on a type of operating lease.
"Our members will sign up to a full fiveyear supply-and-maintenance deal,says Hood.