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Drawbar fleet goes
Page 7
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• Continental and UK operators Murfitts Transport, part of haulage giants Norfolk Line, is to axe its UK-ttaly drawbar division, citing unsustainable margins.
Norfolk Line, itself owned by shipping firm Maersk, only acquired the long-standing Peterborough haulier in March last year. Eddie Green, Norfolk Line's UK MD, says there was no longterm future for the drawbar business: it is an increasingly competitive marketplace between the UK and Italy.
"The cost of running the road trains is higher than using a regular tractor and trailer and the rates we could obtain did not justify running that equipment." it is believed that about 130 drivers are affected by the closure but Green says most will be redeployed within Norfolk Line's other operations.
Murfitts will continue to service its other contracts, mostly on UK work.
"It's unfortunate, but after a lot of examination we felt it was the right thing to do," adds Green.
One former Mort-Ls driver who left the company last year adds: "I'm one of the many who left after listening to nearly a year of promises about pay rises and improved conditions. It's a pity really, because it was good work using decent tackle."