| There's been a lot of unrest lately from Haulage | | | | And if people struggle to make ends meet, they look |
| Exchange members about the rising fuel prices in the | | | | elsewhere for something more profitable - the |
| UK, and I can't say I blame them! | | | | government seems to be facing a UK haulage crisis, |
| Over the past three years bulk diesel prices have | | | | but doesn't seem in the slightest bit fazed. We had |
| increased by 23%, and have shot up 50% since | | | | hoped that Alistair Darling would be significantly more |
| 1999. Domestic fuel prices have increased its price on | | | | sympathetic to the truckers' cause, what with him |
| a weekly basis for over 2 months, really squeezing | | | | previously being the transport secretary, but there |
| haulage companies' profitability. | | | | seems to be no budging from him over this thorny |
| I understand the need to raise domestic fuel prices - | | | | issue. |
| I really do. Extra taxes to be spent on essential public | | | | As a result of this, it's no wonder we're hearing talk |
| services are doubtless a good thing, as is the added | | | | of road blockades and striking reminiscent of |
| bonus that taxing people to use cars will encourage | | | | September 2000. Currently, the Road Haulage |
| the use of public transport, reducing our carbon | | | | Association is (rightly) advising its members that |
| emissions. I don't quibble with the principle. The | | | | blockades will achieve nothing and be unlawful, but |
| trouble is that haulers have no choice. It's their job - | | | | that's what desperation prompts in people - |
| you can't expect an owner operator to take his | | | | desperate measures. Something has to be done |
| freight on the bus! The expectation from the | | | | about domestic fuel prices urgently, and time will tell |
| government seems to be that the haulage companies | | | | whether the government will defuse this timebomb |
| are benefiting from the fuel, and they should | | | | before it goes off. |
| therefore pay the same as everyone else, but it just | | | | Being a member of a freight exchange like ours is a |
| doesn't work like that! If the haulage companies and | | | | good start - if you cut down on dead mileage, then |
| owner operators went on strike (or were possibly | | | | you have bigger profits to spend on the fuel, but it's |
| driven out of business) everyone would suffer - | | | | a poor consolation. We need tax breaks for haulage |
| there'd be no urgent deliveries, competition would | | | | companies and owner operators before the industry |
| reduce meaning the cost of delivery would go up, | | | | begins to feel an even bigger squeeze. And despite |
| and perhaps worst of all for the government there'd | | | | the Road Haulage Associations assurances that |
| be far less people to buy the extortionate petrol in | | | | striking and road blockades are the wrong way to go |
| the first place! | | | | ahead with things, the longer the truckers are |
| What we need are tax breaks for haulage companies | | | | discontented for, the more likely such desperate |
| and owner operators - we're not commuters, we | | | | measures are to go ahead - with or without the |
| don't have a choice and we're facing a struggle to | | | | RHA's backing. |
| make ends meet if the UK fuel prices don't fall for us. | | | | |