Gillman is latest to suffer in bad month
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by Charles Young Gillman European Transport has reduced its fleet drastically and made some drivers redundant, blaming undercutting by foreign competition and a slide in the expert market. This is the latest setback in a terrible month for the haulage industry.
The Ashford, Kent-based firm sold 14 tractive units and 20 trailers at auction last week and made 14 drivers redundant; they have all found other jobs. The firm is now running only four trucks.
Managing director Michael Gillman says his rates are lower than they were 20 years ago. He blames the use of non EU drivers by continental operators, but adds that to survive he will also have to employ foreign drivers.
feel bad for UK drivers," says Gillman, "What they earn today is what they were earning in 1985. They used to earn double a top tradesman's wage, but today they earn the same or less. The quality of drivers has dropped during the years."
Even without the problems of high fuel costs the buys his fuel abroad), Gillman is not able to sustain the business at pre1996 levels, when he was running 30 trucks.
Gillman's drastic contraction comes in the same week that CM has learned of four other haulage firms that are in difficulty.
• Ward Transport, based in Liverpool, went into liquidation earlier this month. Managing director Bnan Sugden says it is in the hands of Chelmsford, Essexbased accountant Duncan R Beat. Records show that Ward has had a County Court Judgment awarded against it for 16,400 in the oast 12 months.
• Manchester-based Falcon Distribution Group went into administration on 8 April with -cashflow problems", Administrator Begbies Traynor says the company is still trading and no jobs have been lost. The firm plans to be out of administration by the middle of June.
• Newport, Gwent-based Strider Transport went into liquidation on 10 May. It employed 10 people and was incorporated in 1997. Managing director MA James was unavailable for comment. A creditors' meeting is scheduled for 8 June; the accountant is Ray Purnell & Co.
• Century Logistics, based in Sheffield, went into liquidation this week; the accountant is Poppleton & Appleby.