We arc quite unable to pass on to our customers
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any extra charges for services rendered; in fact most hauliers will consider themselves very lucky to have enough work to do regardless of rate per tonne. Last week, while endeavouring to obtain work for our lorries I telephoned over 20 potential customers, only to be told how quiet work was by all concerned. How can anyone have the chance to discuss rates when the services are not required?
Work began to ease during the midSeventies, especially during the engineering strike and three-day week; sadly, it has never recovered fully since then. No doubt the Government did its best to create jobs in the engineering sector by sanctioning the 38-tonne vehicle, but many smaller vehicles were already out of work or running well below their carrying capacity long before May 1983.
If the Government now sees fit to give the go-ahead to 40-tonne plus vehicles in the UK many more smaller firms will fold with the loss of more jobs. They cannot hope to compete with the increased competition and costs thrown at them from every direction.
Hopefully the Government may take note of the real world and see tit to reduce VED and dery in the forthcoming Budget before it is too late to save hundreds of reputable firms from closing down for ever.
These days it has become virtually impossible for anyone in general haulage to save up enough money for a deposit on a new vehicle and keep up the regular monthly repayments on it, even with five or six other vehicles working to help. It is a case of make do and mend for as long as you possibly can and live On hope for a brighter, not-toodistant future.
Unfortunately, the supply of-vehicles far exceeds general demand and until the situation changes haulage rates simply cannot rise. In fact they will be far more likely to remain static at best, even then they will fall in real terms because the buying power of the pound has become so low. Does anyone have the answer to this problem which affects us all alike? I feel sure most hauliers would like to know quickly.
Jean Sharples
Transport Manager
jr, Sharpies & Son
Eardisley Hereford