2008 could mark changes to my business, I started in 2001 by buying out a friends business. The deal was was done in January. I was to take over on the first of March. On Feb 28th all livestock movements were banned – for three weeks nothing moved, after that movements to slaughter slowly resumed under licence. For the next few years we rebuilt the business - concentrating mainly on farm to farm movements rather than abattoir work ( probably 70% farm to farm and 30% abattoir)

Foot and mouth reappeared last year and it seems to have altered this balance completely (with a downturn in livestock prices contributing ) ! Since the autumn the balance seems to be 90% abattoir and 10 % farm to farm. Add to this the fact that the number of livestock lorries on the road seems to reduce each year and a nearby haulier deciding he didn't want to go to an abattoir in South Wales any more, it means I have just had the busiest January I've ever had !

As this is usually a quiet time I have been just about been able to cope, but looking forward to next summer I can see major problems getting the work done . In the past when I've had a busy week I worked out I can only be in one place at a time and have subbed the work out to nearby livestock hauliers ( obviously taking a small “commission” off the top) but the question rearing it's head now is the purchase of a second lorry and finding a driver! To get another lorry on the road will take a couple of months at least so I only have a month or so to weigh up the pro's and con's !

On the plus side an extra lorry would make coping with the work much easier, increase my turnover and hopefully profits. On the negative side there's finding a driver, paying wages, paye etc. buying the lorry insuring and maintaining it ! Watch this space while I keep thinking !!!

Denis Fuller is a owner operator based in the south west, running a single truck on livestock and agricutural haulage