It's not all doom and gloom. MIA officials Steve Williams
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and Margaret Edmunds suggest the following preventive measures: Come up with a realistic rate for the job and stick to it. If someone undercuts you let them get on with it and walk away. There's no point doing the job just to keep the wheels turning, because you'll end up broke anyway—as will the firms who want to undercut you. Costs have gone up for everyone, whether the customer likes it or not. • Have a clearly understood surcharge system for when fuel prices rise.
• Be more aware of costings. Keep an eye on the fleet. Simple things like checking tyres for wear and tear can help a business run more efficiently and can make all the difference. There are commonsense ways to save money, and the MIA runs courses on driver awareness which explain how to do it.
Continue lobbying your MP and MEP about cutting the UK's outrageous fuel prices.