the rate race
Page 7
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Germany will be the most lucrative target for our hauliers after cabotage becomes legal with European liberalisation in 1992, followed by Italy and France. Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg and Denmark also pay more than the UK.
Continentals will be less tempted to look for extra loads when they come here because the time they spend would be better rewarded at home, says Maeso. Certain routes will be more lucrative, however, particularly return journeys from drop-off points to Channel ports like Dover: a German delivering to Manchester will look for a load to Birmingham or Leicester, as it is on his way back. British domestic hauliers should beware the competition this "consecutive cabotage" poses, he warns.
Maeso's study, the first to fully compare haulage rates in the Community, warns that on some UK routes there is spare capacity of up to 37% where vehicles run empty. This is where many UK domestic hauliers could be most threatened, he warns.
The findings, presented at the Road Haulage Association's Tipcon at the weekend, show that cabotage could be less of a threat to British jobs and business than many imagine, and will offer more opportunities than threats to hauliers prepared to seek work abroad.
Other statistics show great differences between our rates and those of our European partners' rates. A UK haulier taking a 15-tonne load 500kms can expect to be paid £270. His Spanish colleague will demand £300. In France he might charge as much as 2430 and German and Italian rates could be even higher.
0 Maeso's study can be obtained from his company by phoning (0943) 864124; it costs about £50.