Esso starts Dery rises
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THE COST pressures on hauliers were intensified this week when Esso announced another 3.3 per cent increase in dery charges with effect from Tuesday.
The increase, which applies to contract and retail customers, adds 5.5p per gallon (1.2p per litre) to dery prices, and has been condemned roundly by the Road Haulage Association which has urged its members to shop around for the best prices for its supplies.
Esso says the increase, expected to be the first of a new round of increases, is the inevitable outcome of a further drop in the exchange rate. This fell by 17.8 per cent between January 4 and November 25, and by seven per cent in the last three weeks of that period.
The RHA says the increase is the third in three months, and says that it will intensify cash flow problems experienced by hauliers who often are faced with three month credit periods from their customers, but face "always stringent and often punitive" payment clauses from oil cornpanies.