Costs are the main worry
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• Rising running costs are transport operators' biggest concern, well ahead of safety, the environment, the condition of the road network and the image of road transport.
In Ryder's fourth annual Truck Pulse survey, HGV operators from seven industry sectors agreed that running costs are the main issue.
But despite facing spiralling overheads, 85% of respondents are expecting to boost their turnover this year, and 90% are planning to replace older vehi
des. The manufacturing, distribution and wholesaling sectors are most optimistic of growth, with transport and construction facing the hardest time.
Few businesses see opportunities in new markets—only 40% of operators expect to do better in this respect in the next 12 months, compared with 53% last year.
Fleet sizes will remain largely unchanged this year, according to the survey: just under half of respondents predict an increase in vehicle numbers.