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COMMENT
Page 9
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Parental warning
Caution: This column contains material of a disturbing nature that should not be read by anyone who runs trucks and is of a financially nervous disposition.
If you thought the 'consolidation' of the UK road transport industry had ended, we'd strongly advise you not to look at page 8. The news of three more lambs going to the slaughter is nothing out of the ordinary, although it brings us no satisfaction to say so. Sadly, it is a sign of the times we live in. In CM s last market survey we reported that the number of 0-licensed companies had fallen from 65,300 in 1997 to 52,600 in zooi—a drop of nearly zo%. And there is nothing, absolutely nothing, to suggest the haemorrhaging has stopped.
Perhaps with fewer operators around, rates might stabilise or even rise—and maybe pigs will fly. Take a look at our story on page ix retail distribution is actually cheaper now than it was a year ago—and who do you think delivered that saving?