Kent-based Derek Linch Haulage has blamed the rising cost of fuel, as well as a major contract loss, for its collapse into administration.
Director Derek Linch says the family-owned haulage firm, based in Romney Marsh, has ceased trading after 34 years.
According to Linch, the decision in September 2009 by soft drinks manufacturer Silver Spring to switch its transport operation to Jigsaw, combined with the rising price of fuel, were the key factors.
He says: “We are closing the doors at 5 o’clock today [14 March]. This is a very sad thing to have to do.”
Linch says the firm, which ran 20 trucks, will be put into administration and that 31 people, including drivers, workshop and admin staff, will lose their jobs.
“The industry is losing some great, well run companies like Joseph Rice, who are just finding that the rising cost of fuel is killing them. It’s becoming a very difficult industry to survive in.”
Been trading 34 years and apparently a decent firm to work for. Sympathies to staff and drivers. Where will it end?
sorry state 2 lose another 1
up and down uk every week
reporting local papers saying haulage buisiness shutting shop
due 2 costs .
but every time hauler shut shop .it mite not end up 2 a lot of jobs localy
but on a national scale 1 job 2 many
So bloody sad to be reading this.
Another one in the SE of England. Hard enough for drivers here as it is.
There is something, nay, manythings, fundamentally wrong with the regulation of the haulage industry in this country and of those that come to these shores from afar to participate.
Couple this with the cost of fuel…
Many firms do not go bust because of bad business decisions, the odd one yes, but not the way it is at the moment.
A level playing field for all would be a good start
I sent my ex-boss a text when I found out and his reply, verbatim, was “I know but don’t worry theres seems 2b plenty more E.Europeans here in Dover to take his place”
Your never get a level playing field all the time the big companies use foreign workers,look at tesco even advertising for staff abroad when the people here cant even get a look in,also all main d c s staffed by poles etc… and wonder why my kids cant get a job
blownfuse:
Heard about this yesterday a sad day for a well respected company run by a nice guy who looked after his staff
Yes, I live in east Kent and the reputation Derek Linch had locally was as a totally honest bloke who ran a good fleet, employed local drivers, and would always make sure a driver was home on a certain date if he had said he needed to be.
You just cannot compete against eastern European firms whose drivers spend several months away from home at a time for £700 a month running loads around western Europe.
blownfuse:
Heard about this yesterday a sad day for a well respected company run by a nice guy who looked after his staff
Yes, I live in east Kent and the reputation Derek Linch had locally was as a totally honest bloke who ran a good fleet, employed local drivers, and would always make sure a driver was home on a certain date if he had said he needed to be.
You just cannot compete against eastern European firms whose drivers spend several months away from home at a time for £700 a month running loads around western Europe.
the services near to dartford seem to be the home for HSF logistics. why is that?
Makes you wonder how many more good companies are gonna close down due to deisel fuel hikes sadly many old fleets that were seen regulary up the motorways have gone yet the goverment does nothing but take our taxes to house refugees who then take our jobs will the day of reckoning come when there is no bread in the shops cause no one can afford the diesel to deliver it.
Business and money knows no sentiment at this level of operation though. A triumph for capitalism, weeding out those which cannot fight the pressure from the bigger boys. Sod the working conditons, good employment, service and reputation!
I live local to them and tried for ages to get a job with them but they didn’t come up very often, shame really, supposed to be a good firm to work for and well run.
Transitvan+45galdrum:
I live local to them and tried for ages to get a job with them but they didn’t come up very often, shame really, supposed to be a good firm to work for and well run.
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