In article asCdnZfmyLFfcbzVnZ2dnUVZ8uydnZ2d@plusnet, Clive George
says...
"Conor" wrote in message
...

"Fuel tourism" is unworkable for 99% of UK haulage.

Sounds reasonable to me. So there's a level playing field there.

The problem seems to be an oversupply of haulage capacity, so prices get
pared to the bone and hauliers can't simply charge a working rate. I thought
the great shortage of drivers, as advertised all over usenet over the past
few years, would fix that, but apparently not.

If there is oversupply, then firms will be going to the wall - it's what
happens in other industry.

Ramage went to the wall 4 weeks ago - not for lack of work.
Quite a few are going to the wall - again, not for lack of work.
Many make their money out of storage - the haulage side running at
break even or very small profit.
There was a large haulier who made a pre-tax profit of £71k last year
and has had to put up with a rise in fuel of £250 a week per lorry. I
wonder what this years figures will be.


What proportion of UK haulage is done by UK drivers in UK trucks, foreign
drivers in UK trucks, and foreign drivers in foreign trucks?

Most of it is UK haulage with UK drivers. THere's only a few thousand
foreign drivers and around 1500 foreign lorries on the road at any
time.

Once we know that we can make an informed judgement about whether or not the
complaints about eg polish drivers and foreign lorries taking trade are
actually making a difference.

BUT the number is set to increase thanks to the fact that the Govt is
to relax the rules on cabotage. At the moment, foreign hauliers can
only get backload and export work. Soon they're going to be allowed a
free for all. Expect Willi Betz and Nobby Dentedangle to bring more
into the UK.

And then there's the road safety issue but I guess you don't give a
**** about that though eh?

--
Conor

I only please one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow isn't
looking good either. - Scott Adams