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SCALING down: Keith Elliott and his father have slimmed down to a single vehicle
Hauliers are ready to revolt over fuel
Steve Jones4/ 6/2008
HAULAGE and distribution companies in Stockport fear for their future if already high fuel prices continue to skyrocket.
The average cost per litre is now 124.2p, according to the AA, which hauliers say makes their businesses increasingly unviable and puts many jobs at risk.
Local firms say the rises are forced directly onto customers, and the dreaded tipping-point of 150p per litre could see closures across the industry.
Keith Elliott, of Elliott Nationwide Transport Ltd, Stockport, has already had to scale his operation down to a single vehicle after correctly predicting the current problems.
He and his father sold up their larger company last year, getting out before this "nightmare situation" arose.
"The government is bleeding us dry," he said.
"In December it cost me £83 to fill up my vehicle, but now it is £104.
"My father and I used to run a company with 12 drivers, but he sold up in March last year as he could see that difficult times were ahead.
"It has a knock-on effect, fuel prices go up and then we have to put customers’ prices up, if diesel gets to £1.50 a litre I’ll have to pack it in.
"I’m trying to make a living like anybody else, but it is getting harder and harder - last week I did a seven-hour job, but only made £54."
In the last month the price of diesel rose by its highest margin for a century, with garages now charging 7p a litre more.
Chris Bennett, owner of Chris Bennett Heavy Haulage, who runs 40 lorries out of Bredbury, said: "The price hikes are crippling my business - our fuel costs have risen by £10,000 per month - and I think diesel will be at £1.50 per litre by the summer.
"We haven’t had to make any redundancies yet, but we employ 60 people, and if this situation continues, in six months no one will have a job here.
"This is the dearest country for fuel and the government should get the tax down, we pay too much and it’s not as if we can see results - I don’t see much road building going on."
Lorry drivers in London showed their frustration last week by blocking part of the A40, a major artery into the capital, and local companies indicate they would be willing to follow suit in Greater Manchester.
Paul Hamlett, who runs a small fleet of six trucks from Station Road, Reddish, said it is time for drastic action because costs increase so rapidly.
He said: "I would support a demonstration because my business is being wrecked.
"Prices are so quick to change, we drop off a container at one price and then have to quote another price to collect it, it’s crazy.
"Our fuel costs have gone up by a third and all the fun and all the money has been taken out of the job."
Mr Bennett agreed and said: "I would definitely support a protest as immediate action is what is required.
"We should do what the French do and block everything to make something happen."
He also criticised industry representatives, saying their policy of consultation is not getting results.
However, James Bower, spokesperson for the Cheadle Hulme-based United Road Transport Union, who were not involved in the recent strike action, said he understood the drivers’ frustrations, but talking to government was the best avenue.
"As a union, we take the line that direct consultation is the most appropriate course of action," he said.
"We are working closely with government and lobbying to get the proposed 2p increase stopped, we have places on important committees and boards and are campaigning strongly on their behalf."
Most recent 2 of 2 user comments
I wish you luck because without fuel priced competitively with Europe and those other foreign Johnies, our Country is doomed to decline.
7/06/2008 at 01:02
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