Hauliers spli In Budget prediction
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II Slightly more hauliers expect to be better off than worse off after the Budget, an exclusive Commercial Motor survey has found. But almost half predict that next week's speech by the Chancellor will leave them "about the same" financially.
In the survey, carried out last week, 14% say they will be worse off; 15% better off: and 48% about the same.
Questioned on the state of the economy, no one believes the recession is over and only 7% believe it is beginning to end; 17% say it is getting worse and 74% reckon it is staying the same.
On voting intentions, 56% say they do not know who they will vote for and 20% declined to reply. However, the Conservatives are overwhelmingly popular with the rest with 21% opting for John Major's party and only 1% apiece for Labour, the Liberal Democrats and "others".
The vast majority of those surveyed have no plans to change the size of their fleet or workforce during the next six months (82% and 89% respectively). This also seems to indicate that the recession is bumping along the bottom rather than getting worse, but it is bad news for struggling truck manufacturers. Only 7% of hauliers intend to expand their fleets.
We also asked them what they would like to hear in the Chancellor's Budget speech: Steve Washington, transport manager with Skippers in Kirkby, wants tax concessions on the purchase of new vehicles: that goes for several operators we surveyed.
"He could cut the price of fuel for a start," says Terry Cook of Flockvale Distribution in Warrington, also echoing a popular plea.
Alan Webb, transport manager of Foster Yeoman in Frome, wants income tax to come down but Keith Timpson, transport boss with the St Austell Brewery in Cornwall, simply wants "anything to kick start the transport business".
John Skelton, transport manager of WD Adkins in Cambridge asks for "his resignation".
Flow will you vote? Lab 1%; Con 21%; Lib Dem 1%; Other 1%; Won't say 76%.
After Budget, will you be: worse off 14%; better off 15%; the same 48%; don't know 23%.
Is the recession: over 0%; ending 7%; getting worse 17%; staying the same 74%. In the next six months will you: increase fleet 7%; decrease fleet 8%; keep fleet the same 82%; don'tknow 3%. In the next six months will you: increase staff 4%; decrease staff 6%; keep staff the same 89%; don't know 1%.