Operators boost turnover and profits
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• Hauliers defied tough competition to increase turnover by an average of 14% last year as improvements in economic activity fed through to vehicle operators. The sales increase was echoed by a 1% improvement in the average profit margin to 40.k, says market analysis company Plimsoll.
The results, calculated from financial results of 2,353 firms, show that sales per employee rose by 1% to 198,000.
But despite this improvement, hauliers' turnover and profits are lagging behind commercial vehicle manufacturers, dealers, builders and repairers.
After a study of 1,712 compa
nies in the sector Plimsoll estimates their average turnover rose by 17% on 1993 figures with profit margins up by 2-3%.
Across the whole commercial vehicle industry, Plimsoll found that sales levels averaged 1149,000 per employee. Big companies had a higher average sales figure than smaller firms.