Small hauliers in big squeeze
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• Small transport firms are being squeezed out of the in dustry by larger companies, says a report from the Road Transport and Industry Trail ing Board.
Between 1984 and 1988, small general haulage firms a 210 tipper companies disappeared — many through mergers or acquisitions. Hea haulage was hit hardest, witl the number of firms droppirn by almost 60%.
The number of people employed by companies with a staff of five or less fell by 41 while the number of compani employing more than 250 sta jumped by 78% to 75.
The RTITB predicts that I trend will continue, with another 450 companies disappearing by 1993 — but it ( pects that employment will continue to grow in road trar port and warns companies to prepare against the predicted shortage of young recruits in the 1990s.
Industry has to "re-evaluat and overhaul recruitment and employment policies," says tl RTITB. "Adoption of practici such as retraining, flexible working hours and working weeks, provision of transport and child care assistance is a necessity."