Ian Baxter, MD of European specialist RH Freight, says that the UK transport industry "should not be afraid" of a fully liberalised transport market and full cabotage in the UK. Baxter says that restricting the number of loads foreign trucks can take domestically is bad on both an environmental and economic level, as it increases the amount of empty running.
He adds: "I believe in a single European market and free market for transport - in the end that's a good thing... British companies
should not be afraid of that." He insists that there is a large amount of domestic work that cabotage will not affect, for instance pallet or groupage operations. He adds: "Provided they are operating in accordance with the law, then I don't have an issue with foreign trucks doing cabotage in the UK."
Baxter's comments came as RH Group revealed its accounts for the year ending 31 December 2007. Pre-tax profit rose 20% to £3.6m, up from £3m the year before. Turnover was broadly flat, up 3% to £122.3m, as Baxter says the company concentrated on boosting profit ahead of turnover growth. This year the company is already "significantly ahead" of 2007 levels, he adds.
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