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Tale of two hauliers...
Page 3
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• It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. No, it was definitely the worst of times. Why so morbid? Our exdusive end-of-the-millennium survey of small hauliers is enough to make you weep. When so many want to quit the industry there must be something seriously wrong with it.
Large fleet operators might find the comments from our respondents encouraging. They might reinforce the oft-repeated view that "Big is Beautiful" and that the days of the small haulier are numbered.
We wouldn't bet on it. What goes around comes around and the recent casualty list of companies calling in the receivers has included some impressively big names.
If large hauliers think they can run the business without subcontractors then they should try it. Let them handle all the peaks and troughs without the flexibility of subcontractors. Do NFC, TDG, T8LB et al really want to handle below weight, once-in-a-bluemoon loads from Diss to Daventry?
Furthermore, if they imagine that middle-size fleets are simply going to roll over, they should take note of those that are striking strategic alliances in order to hit the critical mass of mega contract providers. In truth the argument isn't about whether big or small is good. What's currently bad for small hauliers will ultimately be bad for the big boys—even those basking in the smug knowledge that they can still negotiate rate increases when fuel prices go up.
There's never been a better time to be a customer and these days many companies buying the services of hire or reward hauliers have thrown away the rule book when it comes to gentlemanly behaviour. If they want to terminate your contract without warning or explanation then they will. Not because you performed badly—but because your closest rival has bid for the business on a rate that you know is suicidal. But he'll worry about that later As we leave one millennium and enter the next, every 0-licence holder, whether big or small, haulier or own-account, profitable or non-profitable, has to understand that a house divided against itself will fall. And if the road transport industry remains incapable of acting as one, living as one and above all else speaking as one, then no government is ever going to take it seriously. Or seriously enough to do a damn thing for it.
It is the worst of times...