How can road hauliers live on these derisory rates?
Page 49
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• I am writing to ask your readers' opinions on low haulage rates. For example, if an owner-driver was only getting 60p a mile for 38-tonne work, I cannot possibly see how he could earn enough to run his vehicle legally under the terms of his 0-licence.
On top of his regular servicing and maintenance he would probably have to pay hire purchase deals as well as domestic bills, such as mortgage repayments.
Working it out on an average of about 1,600 miles a week he would only earn about £960. If his vehicle does about 7mpg that works out at £378 before the VAT on fuel. Add to that £200 a week for HP which leaves him with 2.380 to pay for everything else. Take off four weeks a year for holidays and Christmas and you wonder how anyone can run legally while being paid rates like that.
Is there nothing that can be done about this?
Name and address supplied.