Hauliers 'driven to breaking point' by diesel prices
Rocketing diesel prices are causing big problems for local road hauliers.
Recent figures revealed the cost for a litre at the pumps has risen to an all-time high.
Motorists with diesel-powered vehicles are suffering from faster rises than those hitting petrol-driven car owners, according to the AA.
The average price of diesel in the UK is now 114.25p a litre - a near-5p rise on the average price a month ago.
Company owners in Bolton who have large fleets of trucks and HGVs have spoken about their fears for the future.
Warren Steel, of W Johnson in Roxalina Street, Bolton, said: "It is an horrendous time. Costs are spiralling and spiralling.
"It will continue to drive the cost of transport up and in the end it all comes back to the taxpayer."
And Tom Harwood, owner of Thomas Harwood and Son Ltd, based in Church Street, Little Lever, said: "We have no control over it and just have to go along with it all."
Some firms have lost work to foreign hauliers whose trucks are full of cheaper European fuel.
Bill Burgess, co-owner of Burgess Brothers in Western Street, Great lever, said: "Some of our customers are sympathetic but a lot know they can have freight transported cheaper by foreign drivers.
"Their fuel is half as cheap as ours and we can't compete."
Mr Burgess added that foreign drivers who had brought loads from the continent would stay in the UK until they found work through freight brokers.
Meanwhile others are also feeling the pinch. Families with two cars are now dealing with a £36.93 hole in their monthly budgets from the extra cost of petrol compared with the same period in 2007.
The cheapest petrol at present is in Yorkshire and Humberside (106.7p a litre on average), while the dearest is in London (107.6p).
Wales has the highest-priced diesel (115.1p) while the least expensive is to be found in North-west England (113.6p).
The AA suggests drivers should try supermarkets where the average price is 111.64p a litre. Supermarket petrol averages 105.18p a litre at present.
AA president Edmund King said: "The dash for diesel continues in the UK, with motorists primarily trying to reduce their fuel costs, but with the added benefit of reduced CO2 emissions.
"However, diesel is more expensive than petrol and the differential is growing. Consequently, buying a diesel is not an automatic switch to cut-price motoring - particularly at current prices."
8:15pm Tuesday 25th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: Bad Wolf, Bolton on 9:47pm Tue 25 Mar 08
This on the back of record corporate profits...
BP - [bold]£1.5 billion[/bold]
Shell - [bold]£13.9 billion[/bold]
This on the back of record corporate profits...
BP -
£1.5 billion
Shell -
£13.9 billion
Posted by: gordon bennett on 10:47pm Tue 25 Mar 08
[quote]Meanwhile others are also feeling the pinch. Families with two cars are now dealing with a £36.93 hole in their monthly budgets from the extra cost of petrol compared with the same period in 2007.[/quote]
What a shame for these poor two car families. If things carry one like this they may end up having to make do with one car.
Meanwhile others are also feeling the pinch. Families with two cars are now dealing with a £36.93 hole in their monthly budgets from the extra cost of petrol compared with the same period in 2007.
What a shame for these poor two car families. If things carry one like this they may end up having to make do with one car.
Posted by: badboi, Bolton on 11:30pm Tue 25 Mar 08
Nothing to do with petrol companies. Blame your own dictator in Downing Street. When the people of this once great nation sit back and say nothing, this is what you get. If people actually decided to get off their backsides and do something about it, Gordon Clown will have no option but to listen
Nothing to do with petrol companies. Blame your own dictator in Downing Street. When the people of this once great nation sit back and say nothing, this is what you get. If people actually decided to get off their backsides and do something about it, Gordon Clown will have no option but to listen
Posted by: The Horwich Observer, Horwich on 12:12am Wed 26 Mar 08
[quote][bold]gordon bennett[/bold] wrote:
[quote]Meanwhile others are also feeling the pinch. Families with two cars are now dealing with a £36.93 hole in their monthly budgets from the extra cost of petrol compared with the same period in 2007.[/quote] What a shame for these poor two car families. If things carry one like this they may end up having to make do with one car.[/quote] Sometimes it is needed to have more than one car in a family (not mine by the way). Once again the Government and the blue chip companies are robbing the average working person.
gordon bennett wrote:
Meanwhile others are also feeling the pinch. Families with two cars are now dealing with a £36.93 hole in their monthly budgets from the extra cost of petrol compared with the same period in 2007.
What a shame for these poor two car families. If things carry one like this they may end up having to make do with one car.
Sometimes it is needed to have more than one car in a family (not mine by the way). Once again the Government and the blue chip companies are robbing the average working person.
Posted by: Greater Mancunian in Dubai, Dubai but back to glorious Manchester soon on 1:14am Wed 26 Mar 08
What all the fuss about it's only 9 pence for a gallon of diesel in Dubai.
What all the fuss about it's only 9 pence for a gallon of diesel in Dubai.
Posted by: doodle9, blackrod on 11:01am Wed 26 Mar 08
No other country in the world would put up with these over-taxed prices at the pumps in Canada when fuel goes up the people speak out and demand fairer prices
This shower of S***TE we have in power ouldnt give a toss and i hope the people of this contry get rid of this corrupt goverment at the next polls GOOD BYE MR BROWN !!!
No other country in the world would put up with these over-taxed prices at the pumps in Canada when fuel goes up the people speak out and demand fairer prices
This shower of S***TE we have in power ouldnt give a toss and i hope the people of this contry get rid of this corrupt goverment at the next polls GOOD BYE MR BROWN !!!
Posted by: OldBoltonian on 7:59pm Wed 26 Mar 08
Good. The sooner these murdering lorry-driving scum are put out of business the better. Guess what kind of vehicle is the prime cause of most RTAs? Back to canals, horse-drawn carts and railways. Ahh, bliss.
Good. The sooner these murdering lorry-driving scum are put out of business the better. Guess what kind of vehicle is the prime cause of most RTAs? Back to canals, horse-drawn carts and railways. Ahh, bliss.
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