High fuel costs are the biggest cause for worry for
transport planning managers and haulage operators.
At a time when budgets are already stretched due to ever-rising operating costs and pressure from customers and suppliers alike, firms are finding cover the expense of petrol and diesel harder than ever.
The Freight Transport Association’s Manager’s Guide to Distribution Costs shows that in October this year operating costs for rigid, articulated and drawbar vehicles has increased by 6.2 per cent compared with the same month in 2010.
This has come in the most part from a 13.9 per cent price hike on diesel but an increase of 8.3 per cent on tyre costs and 5.6 per cent on general overheads.
Bruce Goodhart, FTA research analyst, said: "Commercial vehicle operators are under intense pressure from their customers to suppress haulage rates at a time when the cost of running a truck has risen inexorably and fuel prices nearing record levels. This 'squeeze' has left balance sheets fragile and carriers vulnerable during a period of weak economic growth."
Chancellor George Osborne recently made a u-turn on his original plans to implement a further fuel duty rise in January.
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