1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156 
Other survey troublespots
5th September 2002, Page 5
5th September 2002
Page 5
Page 5, 5th September 2002
— Other survey troublespots
Close
Noticed an error?
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• Shortages of qualified drivers directly employed in the industry—currently estimated to be 40,000—may rise above 135,000 following the introduction of the Working Time Directive which will drive up operating costs and reduce capacity.
More stringent rules on hauliers' financial standing. This could finish off many UK-based operators as they fail to meet the new standards.
• Insurance premium hikes of up to 30%—some operators are finding it hard to find affordable insurance.
• Any war in Iraq will have dire consequences for hauliers, says Swords: It's doubtful whether the government would intervene to reduce costs if this happened—a big jump in oil prices would have a terrible effect on the sector."