The Road Haulage Association (RHA) is warning the current scenario of rapidly increasingly fuel prices will lead to higher rates from haulage companies, which will in turn undermine economic growth.

Not taking VAT into account, haulage companies now pay a bulk price of 110.46 pence per litre, which represents a 0.98 rise since February 2011. This means a haulage company running a typical 44 tonne lorry will have seen the costs of keeping this truck on the road increase by £1000 during the month of February alone.

Jack Semple, director of policy at the RHA fears for the state of haulage services in the UK and commented: “The cost increases are unavoidable and it is essential that transport buyers accept them through increased haulage rates, unpalatable though that may be at a time of rising costs. That is the only way the industry can sustain the high-quality haulage services on which we all rely.”

This lead the organisation that represents over 7500 haulage companies and 100,000 heavy good vehicles, to make an urgent call for Chancellor George Osbourne to reconsider the proposed inflationary duty increase on the 1st April 2011 – the eighth in 28 months. Haulage companies are now relieved with the delay until January 2012 of the rise.

Many companies involved directly or indirectly with the haulage services sector have also recently pledged support for the Fair Fuel UK Campaign, which is gaining momentum in the first quarter of 2011 following the constant rises at the petrol pumps.

Daniel Parry, director of transport services website Delivery Quote Compare.com commented: “We totally empathise with the plight of haulage companies in this country. Constant price hikes on fuel can only lead to higher quotes for haulage services, but at least with our website, customers needing goods moving are matched with haulage companies showing spare capacity in their trucks, so at least there a no empty legs on a lorry’s journey, but this doesn’t compensate for the exorbitant fuel price increases.”

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For more information contact press@deliveryquotecompare.com

Notes for editors:

Daniel Parry is CEO of online transportation website Delivery Quote Compare, offering free quotes for thousands of rated haulage companies for professional haulage services for individuals and businesses alike.

About www.deliveryquotecompare.com:

Deliveryquotecompare.com was set up to provide transport companies with an opening to make quotes and win delivery work from customers who need goods delivering to national, European and international destinations.

All types of delivery companies are registered with the site, from haulage companies to specialist house removal services. All types of goods are quoted for and handled, from eBay seller deliveries, to boat deliveries and furniture shipments throughout the UK, in Europe and beyond.

Customers with goods that need to be delivered simply register and post the job details on the Delivery Quote Compare website and the details are then sent on to relevant transport companies who can provide the service required. The companies then look at the details and work out a bespoke price for that delivery job.

The customer then receives email alerts to let them know quotes are coming in. If the ‘auction format’ is chosen, the transport companies can see all quotes being posted and how competitive they need to be to win the job.

For customers using Delivery Quote Compare, the service is completely free.