Tarmac Topblock may face a subbie park-up
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CM COVER STORY
laura.haitstone.farbi.co.uk TARMAC TO PBLOCK could face a national park-up by its 100 owner-drivers who claim they have been left £1.000 worse off a week. following the building product producer's removal of a diesel price cap last month without any notice.
This follows a 50/ rate cut last summer, which Tarmac's Building Products division said it had to introduce "across-the-board" to cope with the crash in the construction market.
On top of this. several of Tarmac Topblock's depots in the south of England have since closed, so delivery legs are becoming longer.
With bulk diesel now over Laitre.many of the owner-drivers claim that journeys beyond a 100-mile radius are not cost-effective for them.
To add to the problems. many drivers believe Tarmac has been paying external hauliers considerably more to do these longer routes. in some cases up to £150 above the usual Tarmac rate.
Earlier this week, a letter was issued to Tarmac Topblock on behalf of all the owner-driver depots. stating that they would no longer carry out 100 mile-plus radial loads unless they were paid the same as external hauliers, as they couldn't afford to do it at the current rate.
CM understands Tarmac Top. block has now offered to reinstate the 5% on any IOU mile-plus loads and called a meeting for 12 May with the live Tarmac Topblock owner-driver representatives.
"While this is a start. the 5% hasn't been reinstated on anything under 100 miles," says one driver. "When we took the cut last year, it was on the understanding that as the market picked up, it would be reinstated. Block volumes have certainly been picking up."
1 he drivers say they may consider a national walk-out depending on the outcome of the 12 May meeting. However, in a statement to CM Neil Barlo% senior logistics manager for Tarmac Building Products, says volumes have not increased and are "at the same level as they were last year".
"We will be meeting with thc contracted hauliers who transpon our blocks in early May to discus! rates," says Barlow The volatik cost of fuel is affecting everyone including Tarmac, and it's import= that we have this meeting to look a how we take things forward."
On the issue of paying externa hauliers more, Barlow adds:"Whei work cannot be taken on by oil owner-drivers, we have to look tt external hauliers. When we do thi! we pay a variable market rate fo their services: sometimes this is at ; higher cost. but more often than no it is lower than our rates lb contracted hauliers. Ultimately, i does not make sense for us to pa: more to external companies. am we'd always prefer to direct wonl through our contracted hauliers."
Driver rep for the Maltby, Soutl Yorks depot, Dave Huxstead, say: "We're not asking for the world; a we want is a proper rate for the jol and a cap on diesel [prices]."
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