Turks first for Davies Turner by David Craik • Freight
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forwarding giant Davies Turner has told its staff to employ Turkish subcontractors "wherever possible" despite claiming a "British is best" policy.
It has further angered UK subcontractors who are being forced to pull out of the Turkish trips as the rates have been cut by a further £300.
An unnamed UK haulier, who carries out round trips for Davies Turner to Turkey, says that in a conversation with Chris Jackson, a member of DT's Turkish department, he was told Jackson had to "use Turkish hauliers wherever possible"—a claim Jackson denies.
DT director Michael Stevenson says his compa ny does try to "bat for the British wherever possible" but in the past month the effect of a strong pound has badly affected his company. Davies Turner has had to bow to calls from its European partners to use cheaper Turkish and Austrian hauliers wherever possible. "Our control of our business has been reduced," says Stevenson. "We held on for as long as we could but the pound has remained strong."
Last October, Philip Stevenson of Davies Turner said his company did not "go out of its way to employ Turkish over European hauliers."
Michael Stevenson says the problem has bottomed out and that the use of British hauliers would again increase when the pound was weaker.
From 1 April the basic rate for British hauliers for a round trip trailer to Turkey has been reduced by £300 to make them more competitve against other Turkish firms.
A second unnamed haulier says the reduction in rates has led to talk among a number of British hauliers that they are close to pulling their last loads for Davies Turner.