Steel hauliers hit by 10% rates cut
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• Surprise rate cuts of about 10% have been imposed on steel hauliers working for United Engineering Steels.
The reduction came into effect on 1 September; it hits 38-tonner operators hardest.
Contractors working out of UES sites at Rotherham and Stocksbridge were surprised because they were still talking to the company about ways to reduce its transport bill.
One haulier says: "UES is in a losing situation and it is just trying to transfer that to everyone else. There was no discussion—it was take it or leave it."
UES had warned that it needed to reduce its transport costs in the face of declining orders and rising costs; the company was talking to its haulage contractors about efficiency improvements.
Its major hauliers are Ernest Thorpe, John Truswell & Sons and ABS Distribution Services.