Booming out East
Page 18
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MIDDLE EAST freightinE specialist Astran increased it business by more than 50 pei cent in the first quarter of 1981, and its new ownership dea went through only four month: ago.
The second stage of Astran's E300,000 investment plan includes the purchase of an additional ten 12-metre trailers to help take advantage of the lucrative Iraq, Qatar and United Arab Emirates markets.
Astran executive director Uwe Ploog said that many hauliers, especially owner-drivers, have spare capacity, but few have any significant experience in the Middle East.
"I see a very real risk of the overland business yet agair getting a bad name as in the mid-Seventies, but perhaps this time shippers will be aware of the dangers in simply taking the lowest price." he said.
The position is aggravated by some forwarding companies who are offering owner drivers low rates for jobs, knowing that they will not even cover direct operating costs. These forwarders then stand to make substantial profits at their clients' risk, Mr Ploog warned.