Road haulage becoming more profitable by Roger Harrabin
Many big transport firms have made substantial profits since the fuel blockades a year ago by small hauliers complaining that diesel taxes were driving them out of business.
Research by this programme shows that nine out of 10 of the UK's top transport and logistics operators reported strong profits - with some record sums - thanks to new technology and growth into international markets.
Meanwhile an unpublished study for the Road Haulage Association by the economists CEBR forecasts an 8% increase in the ratio of haulage firms going bankrupt. That is higher than the national average - but much lower than it was a decade ago.
Family firms and one-man operators have suffered most. CEBR say fuel prices were one of many factors causing problems for small hauliers - along with road congestion, increased labour costs, the strong pound, high imports and increased efficiency among large international transport firms. Many analysts believe that a shake-up of the industry was needed to reduce over-capacity
Recent studies show that since last year's cuts in fuel tax and vehicle excise duty, the total tax burden on UK hauliers is roughly equal to that on firms in France. The Freight Transport Association agree that the UK tax-take from hauliers is now substantially lower than the cost of damage that truckers cause to the road network and the environment - in other words, taxpayers are subsidising road haulage.
Hauliers' leaders maintain, though, that high fuel taxes in the UK are putting firms at a disadvantage to Continental competitors.
