What is going on in the Haulage world,I started in Road Transport Finance in 1977 and retired at 60 ten years ago since when I have spent the last ten years monitoring transport companies and how they operate to keep my brain working.
I wonder when it started to go wrong,I think that when truck manufacturers started to finance the HGV’s rather than let the traditional HP companies who took a look at the request for finance and generally could advice the best way to acquire the truck.
To overcome the problems with deposits on trucks the market turned to operational leasing which I believe has been a disaster for everyone concerned.
So now we have hundreds of tractor units that have been looking for work with the results that haulage rates have only gone one way.
This has created a driver issue because the revenue generated with the vehicles is insufficient to pay and retain good men.
Invoice discounting or factoring is another kiss of death for all concerned,because banks who do not want to lend to businesses anyway came up with the idea of advancing cash against the clients invoice for a SMALL fee! Another reason to hold onto your money not theirs.
If you read Commercial Motor most weeks there are articles in full colour showing new vehicles and a glowing article about the haulier concerned ,when I put the business concerned into Companies House the truth then comes out particularly with old established medium sized ( up to 500 vehs) operations.
These people have bank o/drafts and are factoring as well ,they have trucks and trailers on pure rental as well as HP and also on manufacturers schemes,the result is these businesses continue to limp along with the industry under pressure as never before.
Well Done !
Sounds like youre timing it well. Going at the time of your own choosing. Had enough to make you decide to leave, but not staying on until youre bitter.
albion:
No idea what I’m going to do next. Probably stupid enough to start again
That clearly shows you`re well in front of many who become disillusioned with it all and want to forget it all.
Take one of those holidays you`ve dodged? Take some time to re-discover where your hinterland is: it may not be where you left it!
Whatever you do, in or out of transport, you`ve got my best wishes to add to all those, from others.
I’d forgotten the hinterland franglais, I shall do my best not to have an absence of
I think you are right Gardner in many ways, can I just say that I have bought everything outright for a number of years, quite a lucky position to be in.
goodluck.
sad sign of the times when well established hauliers have to pull the pin.
drivers think its bad enough without company owners not being able to work because the lunatics above them are running the asylums .
albion:
I’d forgotten the hinterland franglais, I shall do my best not to have an absence of
I think you are right Gardner in many ways, can I just say that I have bought everything outright for a number of years, quite a lucky position to be in.
You normally have some common-sense advice for others Albion. What would you advise others to doin your upcoming situation?
Would it involve taking a proper holiday?
You may have to force yourself to slow down at first, but it may be worth it.
albion:
I’d forgotten the hinterland franglais, I shall do my best not to have an absence of
I think you are right Gardner in many ways, can I just say that I have bought everything outright for a number of years, quite a lucky position to be in.
You normally have some common-sense advice for others Albion. What would you advise others to doin your upcoming situation?
Would it involve taking a proper holiday?
You may have to force yourself to slow down at first, but it may be worth it.
My advice would be to take some time out before doing anything with consequences.
My non plan, bearing in mind it will be around April when we finish operating, is to go for longer dog walks, pootle round my garden, wade through a mountain of unread books, review my bucket list and contemplate other work not involving trucks!
France maybe, but it’s a big world out there. I think being single, no children, no relatives gives me a lot of freedom, but on the other hand it’s hard to do everything yourself in a strange country.
That’s very sad to hear Albion but you must follow your own instincts, and if they tell you that you have had enough of the nonsense, then it’s best to cash in your chips, have some me time and see what’s next. It is interesting though that you seem to have decided to close the door rather than try and sell it as a going concern.
Part of my irritation is that we usually, but not always, get a three year contract. Last year instead of giving me three years, they extended mine by 3 months, the issue (not mine, to do with their site), was not resolved so we got another year, bringing us to end of March. All suppliers are going to be signing up to a new contract, rather than the re-hashed one of old as an interim, so they offered me a 9 month. By that time I’d got wind of the changes that were going to feature and thought do I want to sign up to something when I don’t like the future terms. The answer was no, so I have no contract and therefore nothing really to sell.
That’s a very brief outline of something that has become complicated, but I don’t want to be too specific or identifying on certain issues.
I think the only way one can run transport properly and healthily profitably is on own account (or specialised services) now, where the distribution dept services and pleases the customer as against just providing a transport hire and reward service which is always subject to cutthroat competition and fools in pointy shoes, i’m lucky in that i work at such a place notably devoid of pointy shoed gelled haired just out of uni types.
The best to you for the future Albion
Interesting how you are leaving, on good terms helping the customer as best you can to a smooth changeover, thereby leaving that door always ajar…one particular large logistics mob currently going about things in completely the opposite way (and ruling themselves out for ever ) could learn a thing or two from you, but no doubt know all pointy shoes are in charge there.
I have a professional interest Juddian, we have given a good service and whilst the pointy shoes irritate me, the people I deal with on a day to day basis are good people, so I’ve no interest in making their life complicated and anything that eases the path of the drivers to continued employment under the same terms, is something I hope to achieve.
I’ve certainly been popular with my competitors this morning!
Good luck and sorry to be reading it, but at least it’s your choice albeit due to the changes.
I don’t think I’ve ever conversed with you on here, but you’re someone that I always want to see what you have to say, I think you’ve always sounded like a spot on employer.
So all the best for the future, whatever it may bring
I was lucky in that I was able to sell my courier business recently, albeit on a much smaller scale. It was only thanks to a contract in a niche industry that I was able to sell.
After almost 20 years of never really switching off, not been abroad (apart from work) or had more than weekends away in all that time, the relief of being free has been amazing.
Had 3 months off while I retrained and sorted out all kinds of things that I never had the time for and I feel like a new person. Health (mental and physical) has improved considerably.
Sounds like you were a great employer to work for with a great outlook and I’m sure you will transfer that to whatever you do from here. Enjoy a break, sounds like you have earned it, then crack on with whatever makes you happy. Good luck!
Sad… With all those bad companies around I always thought that at least somewhere exists Albion haulage, where people earn decent money and are happy, not any more…Santa doesn’t exist… Good luck to you Albion, enjoy whatever you do in the future.
Sad to read ,But these days people are employed to dot i’s or cross t’s to satisfy all the red tape bores , the insurance thieves and greedy investors and accountants .It is a one way street to ruin any chance of the average Joe earning a peaceful honest living .
All the very best
idrive, in 27 years I’ve had four one week breaks and three breaks over Xmas. Good to hear that it’s worked out for you.
I’m sorry milesahead. The things that made us different don’t fit in the modern world. It took me a long time to make peace with myself for changing the drivers jobs/lives, but at some point I’d have keeled over or lost the contract and it would have changed.
Sorry to hear this Albion it sounded like you had a decent business and dedicated staff that were well rewarded for doing a decent job.
Sad to see another proper haulier jack it in due to clowns with oversized wrist watches and to much hair gel thinking they know better.
Hope your drivers find new decent jobs and you enjoy your retirement.
Hopefully you keep posting here as your always interesting and knowledgeable
Sorry to hear about your decision and I wish you all the best for the future.
Although my operation was much smaller than yours(5 trucks)I decided to retire years ago.I wouldn’t profess to be mastermind but I have a degree in Business Studies and I speak 4 foreign languages.Compare this with the pimply traffic clerks/planners and their “managers” who would struggle to find their backside with both hands.These people decide if or at all how much of a living you earn.
All the best.
) could learn a thing or two from you, but no doubt know all pointy shoes are in charge there.
Good luck to you Albion, enjoy whatever you do in the future.