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Hauliers' average margins slide again, to 2.7%
Page 15
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MARGINS IN the haulage industry are down on two years ago and running at just 2.7%, according to Plimsoll Publishing.
A four-year study of 2,000 UK haulage companies shows average margins have dipped from 3% two years ago:61% of companies questioned have seen margins slide.
The analysis, which is based on limited companies posting over klm in average sales, also shows 9% are losing money for the second year in succession; 34%, have maintained sales with reduced margins The average return on investment stands at 50/.
David Pattison, senior analyst with Plimsoll, warns that a significant proportion of the industry is showing real signs of distress: "There are a band of haulage bus nesses finding that it's hot in th kitchen at the moment."
"The causes are down to ind vidual circumstances and som( times stern back a few years... th situation isn't OK."