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Diredive to throw in the towe
Page 67
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Impending rules and regulations are proving to be the final straw for
some operators.
It's a worrying trend when hauliers are choosing to sell up rather than continue to work with incoming EU legislation and government-backed rules and regulations.
Hauliers and transport companies up and down the country with vast experience have stopped delivering and chosen the Saturday auction to get rid of their stock.
Gordons of Bonnybridge (CM20 May 2003), through Malcolm Harrison Auctions, and T Roberts (Haulage Contractors) in Sheffield, via CVA in Doncaster, are just the latest. Managing director David Gordon of Gordons of Bonnybridge says the decision was made easier after it lost a contract it had held for more than 40 years distributing Cummins engines. But with EU legislation such as the Working Time
Directive coming in, rather than search for more work he decided to call it a day.
David and Derek Roberts, joint directors of family-owned T Roberts (Haulage Contractors) in Sheffield, simply felt overwhelmed by rules and regulations. David Roberts said he was aware of many hauliers selling up rather than trying to cope with the way the industry has been tightened.
"It was getting to the stage when I woke in the morning, I'd ask: 'What new rule or regulation has been issued today?' "We are finishing because of rules and regulations. It goes against the common sense and experience of the people in the industry.The people dishing out new rules and regulations have no common sense and experience of road transport, and those that do are finishing," he says. •