Diesel price increases force haulage rates up
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• Transport firms are beginning to introduce customer surcharges to cover some of the recent diesel price increases, amid speculation that further jumps are likely.
TNT has brought in a standard DI weekly charge, which is imposed regardless of the number of consignments. But it says it has had no bad feeling from its customers, who received their first invoice last week. TNT says the charge will be withdrawn as soon as the crisis is over.
Leicester Heavy Haulage of Ellistown has introduced a temporary surcharge of between 2.5% and 3.5% of the usual rates. The rise in diesel prices were costing it about £4,000 a month it says.
The movement in fuel prices between the beginning of Aumist to now has added about 3.5% to the operating costs of a haulier running one 38tonner, according to the Freight Transport Association.
Oil Price Assessment fuel analysts says it would not rule out another significant diesel price increase within the next four weeks.
The five oil giants say they are monitoring the situation very closely and prices will reflect the international market. Shell, which is charging 40.9p per litre for diesel, claims it is under pressure from weakening sterling and increased Rotterdam product prices.
Iveco Ford is likely to pay more than the 8.5% increase agreed for its production workers in the second year of its two-year agreement which starts in November, as the inflation rate is pushed up by fuel cost rises. The truck manufacturer has agreed to pay whatever the current rate is in November.