Latest Fuel News

A total of 100 workers at Larkhall, South Lanarkshire and 80 at Nottinghamshire have been axed from their site. The companies have taken this drastic step in order to become more cost effective. The workers who are facing job cuts are truck drivers, support staff and administration personnel.

The HR director, Sheila Woodbridge stated that a consultation group had been formed and the company was open to listen to the views of the employees affected with the trade unions involvement.

Aileen Campbell has reached out to Jim Mather the Enterprise Minister to provide assistance and support for the workers who have been laid off and their respective families. She stated that times were tough and they are doing everything they could to support the workers. Even the Scottish Government has been approached to solve the situation.

The economic downturn has affected everyone, and the UK Government has not been able to tackle the high fuel prices that have pressurised the haulage industry. Though the use of fuel cards would have provided the companies with a cost effective solution, many are not aware about their benefits. Fuel cards are ideal for tackling high fuel prices, as haulage industries are entirely dependent upon their vehicles and fuel consumption figures.

Equifax has warned that more transport companies are likely to fall at a steep rate in the coming year unless they receive enough cash flow. The analysts have revealed from the Business Failures Report that the failures in the communication and the transport sector have increased from 17% to 51.8% in the fourth quarter of 2008. In fact, the first and second quarter of 2009 is expected to continue the same downfall trend.

Neil Munroe, the Director of external affairs stated that the sector has suffered mainly because of the heavy exposure to the retail and construction markets. While construction failures increased by 54.7% in the last quarter, the retail market collapsed due to a 42.5% downfall. He also added that the figures were somewhat expected, however not at such a quick rate.

Munroe also stated that the economic slowdown has hit every industry and a downturn was inevitable. In the transport industry the prices of fuel have fluctuated so much that business has suffered. At times like this, fuel cards can be a good option to make some savings on fuel expenses. Though the savings are not very high, they do however help to reduce the overall expenditure.

With the recession, a number of haulage companies are going through difficulties trying to stay on top of the game. A haulage company in Billingham is hoping to overtake its competition by investing in a training programme so that it can increase its market share. The programme includes putting staff through management and leadership courses and making senior managers go through degree courses in business.

The firm Nicholson’s Transport, deals with pallet delivery and said that as the credit crunch began to affect them when their supply chain got affected and this badly affected the business. The company, however, managed to bounce back after it introduced late night deliveries to Birmingham and Glasgow. The move has opened the company up to various new markets in a number of places.

The only worrying thought is the operating costs of these new markets. Fuelling the many transport vehicles could cost a great deal. However, with fuel prices being what they are, many companies that involve large fleets of vehicles are resorting to the use of fuel cards. Many companies who are already using fuel cards are reaping the benefits from them. Fuel cards can save companies a lot of time while refilling and can even help save a small amount on fuel costs which can ultimately turn out to be big savings in the future.

Nicholson’s Transport is a transport company that is based in Billingham. This company, with an aim of increasing its market share, has lately invested in major training programmes. The haulage company plans to overtake all of its competitors as they fight to keep themselves in the market, especially due to the economic downturn. Nicholson’s Transport expects a turnover of almost £1m due to their training programmes.

The transport firm had undergone a training session which brought them back to their feet after their trade downfall during the years 2006 and 2007. David Nicholson, the managing director of the company, said that the credit crunch led to the fall of the majority of the competition that was available in the haulage industry. This has led them to make sure that they are in a position to take advantage of such a situation.

He also adds that training and education was essential in order for one to take their business forward and he felt that he had to set an example. Since the economic downturn mainly includes the changes in fuel prices, fuel card usage is a good option for haulage companies. Fuel cards will not only let them manage their business better, but will also give them a minimal saving with every use, which may not seem important in the beginning, but will turn out to be beneficial in the long run.

Fuel cards are perfect for any fleet-based organisation as they eliminate the need for cash at petrol stations. They are completely secure and unlike credit cards can only be used by the authorised personnel.

Although fuel cards are relatively simple to apply for, there are some questions which are frequently asked by the applicants.

What is the difference in prices while using fuel cards at petrol pumps?
The difference in prices between fuel cards and petrol stations may be small when compared with each other. But vehicles like lorries, trucks, vans etc, consume a large quantity of fuel daily and even a small difference in fuel prices can result in large savings on fuel costs.

How does a fuel card help my business?
Some of the benefits of a fuel card for your business are:

• VAT approved invoices for all transactions
• Significant reduction in paperwork and administrative time
• Security benefits such as purchase restrictions on volume of fuel

Can I see the transactions done by my driver?
Yes, most card companies provide you with a detailed invoice on a weekly basis that includes all details of transactions.

What other products can I purchase with a fuel card?
Depending on the category of the fuel card purchased by you, lubricants, vehicle accessories and many other different products can be selected.

How do I apply for the fuel card?
Fuel cards are easy to apply for at the fuel card company’s website. All you need to do is fill the application form by following the simple instructions mentioned on the site.

South Lincolnshire hauliers have had an expensive 2008 as fuel prices were on the rise. With the coming of the New Year, fuel prices have now begun to fall which is obviously good news for motorists and hauliers alike.

The price of diesel has now reached its lowest price in South Holland since November 2007. These prices have further decreased in the New Year, which has brought the motorists a certain amount of cheer.

There are many more advantages that these hauliers can expect from this change of prices. In fact many of them believe that this decrease in fuel prices will turn out to be a total turnaround for them from a devastating year.

Kelvin Allen, the director of John M Allen Transport said that they were still trying to reap the revenue that they had lost the previous year paying for extra fuel that could not be afforded by their customers, due to the high prices.

Fuel cards can be a major advantage to the haulage industry. Since this industry is large with many vehicles to manage under it, fuel cards make the job easier, especially when it comes to keeping track of fuel usage by the various hauliers. Fuel cards to a certain extent also lessen the impact of uncertain fuel prices.

According to a recently released government report, more than half of all company owned vehicles are likely to be involved in road accidents this year. Most accidents will occur due to negligence and error on the part of the driver, and that can have a bad effect on the company.

With stringent traffic laws introduced, the employer or company owner is now legally required to ensure their driver is following road safety laws and driving the vehicle safely. If any lapse is found in maintaining proper procedures and policies, the employer can be prosecuted.

One of the common causes of road accidents is the use of mobile phones while driving. To avoid such incidents, employers should instruct their drivers not to receive or make calls while driving.

To avoid road accidents and maintain safety, employers must:

• Ensure adequate time for refreshments and rest is included in the journey plan
• Instruct all staff on the importance of not talking on the mobile phone while driving
• Inform staff of the company policy if involved in any road accident – inform the supervisor immediately

The major concern of most haulage businesses is the rising expense on fuel costs. Even though global oil prices have been stable for sometime, the cost of running many vehicles is high. Haulage companies can considerably reduce their fuel costs with the help of fuel cards that offer a competitive price on fuel.

The current price of petrol is unlikely to fall further in Northern Ireland according to the Belfast Telegraph. It also reports that the price fall at the weekend is going to be the last one for drivers.

The average petrol price in the UK stands at 85.99p per litre and the typical cost of diesel is 98.06p per litre according to the newspaper. Luke Bosdet, the Public Affairs Spokesperson claimed that fuel costs have dropped because of Tesco’s decision to reduce its petrol price by 3p during the weekend.

Whilst the entire globe is facing a credit crunch due to the current economic status, many people fear the loss of jobs and financial future. The huge fall in the prices of diesel and petrol is the only consolation factor stated the Public Affairs Spokesperson.

Mr. Bodset also stated that British consumers should take complete advantage of the cheap prices now, simply because the same prices are not going to last forever. Some of the reports even showed that between November and middle of December the price of petrol fell from 94.86p per litre to 89.48p per litre.

Using fuel cards is an ideal way to save a small amount every time you buy fuel. This small amount can turn out to be quite substantial for fleet owners who refuel several times a week or even daily.

With fuel prices at a high level, you would do anything to save on fuel. Fuel is necessary and even minor savings on fuel expenses can go a long way. With the help of the new fuel cards, you can achieve just that.

Fuel cards come in different packages and can be prepaid or billed, and with the help of these, you can buy fuel at slightly reduced rates when compared to normal prices.

In credit card transactions, you have to pay interest on all the transactions done, in the case of fuel cards you are charged absolutely no interest.

Another benefit of the fuel card is that it includes VAT so you need not waste time calculating and paying VAT on all the transactions.

If you own a fleet of vehicles, then a fuel card is best suited for you, as it enables bulk savings on your entire fleet and even a small saving can add up to a considerable amount.

You may have knowledge of where you can get cheap fuel, but with the help of a fuel card, there is no need for you to go to any unknown location to fill up.

As the details and other limits are already specified, if the card is stolen there is no way a thief could actually use it.

Once again the world is witnessing violence in the Gaza strip. One of the effects of the attacks is increasing fuel prices that are affecting the whole world.

The tension in the Middle East has generated different reactions from different countries. Whilst Iran is calling to boycott the supporters of Israel, countries like Kuwait and UAE are not expected to join Iran as they have good relations with USA.

Until and unless this unrest is completely over, it is hard to predict what OPEC’s future steps will be. Hence, there is a chance that fuel prices will go up again. The only way to save some of your hard earned money during such times is by opting for a fuel card.

Fuel cards allow you cashless transactions which are a help in certain conditions. Prepaid fuel cards allow you to manage and curtail your fuel consumption. Another advantage of fuel cards is that you save a small amount of money per transaction, which adds up to a fair amount when used over time.