Haulage Rates fail to Keep up with Rising Costs
A Freight Transport Association (FTA) report has claimed that haulage rates are failing to keep up with the rising costs of running a transport business.
In its 2011 Manager's Guide to Distribution Costs, the FTA calculates that vehicle operating costs for hauliers rose by 6.8% in the 12 months to 1 April 2011.
The Guide also detailed a rise in the cost of diesel for fleets of 15.6% in the year.
However, domestic haulage rates increased by an average of just 3.4% while international rates increased, on average, 5.4%
FTA research analyst Bruce Goodhart says: "The high and rising cost of fuel continues to put companies under considerable financial pressure. With haulage rates failing to keep up with increasing vehicle operating costs, profit margins are being squeezed and jobs put at risk, hampering economic recovery".
The Manager's Guide to Distribution Costs is produced annually, based on data supplied by FTA member companies.
Included in this year's document are updated bulk diesel prices and operating cost forecasts, as well as haulage rate trends.
There is also information on wage trends for drivers, and the latest vehicle operating cost tables.
This article was taken from Roadtransport.com.
