The outbreak of foot and mouth
disease is threatening thousands of jobs in small haulage companies, according
to the Freight Transport Association.
More than 400 companies were
brought to a standstill as a result of the Government’s three-week ban on the
transport of live animals across the UK.
As Personnel Today went to press,
food transport companies were considering the Government’s partial lifting of
the ban.
The Freight Transport Association
estimates that the standstill could cost its members £5m in lost business.
Geoff Dossetter, the association’s
head of external affairs, said, “There can be no doubt about the seriousness of
this situation.
“Many livestock hauliers are
operating on the slenderest of margins. Many companies will be reviewing their
future.”
Shaun Gilder, of the
Gloucester-based haulage company Gilder & Sons, said: “We are still waiting
to find the details of the proposals and will then consider the situation.”
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Gilder had warned that the crisis
would cause redundancies in his company, which makes about £40,000 a week from
meat and livestock movements in the UK.
Although most hauliers support the
restrictions, they are keen for the quarantine period to be short as possible,
said the FTA.
