"Snow Joke if You're a Haulier" Says the Road Haulage Association

LONDON, January 7 - News reports over the past few days all featured the problems caused by
atrocious weather conditions. Flights are delayed; train operators are either
running restricted services or cancelling them altogether.

But despite the gloom, doom and ice, most supermarket shelves remain
stacked, factories keep working, filling stations maintain stocks of fuel
and, to all intents and purposes, life goes on. This is down to the unsung
heroes of the UK haulage industry.

The cost to the economy in general caused by the current adverse weather
conditions will amount to millions of pounds in lost revenue. The cost to the
haulage industry in particular will be equally damaging.

Hauliers are facing up to serious problems completing deliveries on time,
many requiring additional resources (drivers and vehicles) to complete normal
duties. And if this were not enough, many operators are finding that their
customers have closed until the weather improves.

Diversion costs due to road closures are also an issue while those who
deliver to industrial sites face additional safety hazards of side roads
which have not been gritted because of they do not rate sufficiently high on
local authorities' list of priorities.

And if THAT were not enough, hauliers are now paying the highest rates
for diesel for well over a year.

"This is an industry that works tremendously hard come rain, shine or
snow", said RHA spokesperson Kate Gibbs. "We have just been through a year
that for many members has been financially crippling. Yet UK hauliers are
STILL delivering the UK economy."

Road Haulage Association - phone us first.

www.rha.uk.net

For more details, contact RHA Head of Media Relations, Kate Gibbs on
Tel: +44-(0)-1932-838917, Mob: + 44-(0)-7979-531451, www.rha.uk.net