nsmith1180:
Incorrect. We were profitable and growing until this customer stopped paying. Then we lost £20k in cash flow and it was a downward spiral. Between Eddie, WS, Great Bear and Wincanton, we could have run two wagons 24h a day. New is the only way to go in my opinion. The Renault was was a E6B and was 3% more efficient than the Merc it replaced on the same work. The Scania was E6C and was 16% more efficient than the Frenchie on the same work. So keeping current with trucks offest 19% of the 23.5% increase in diesel cost
over 2 years.
How were you profitable? You closed the doors when a £20k minus arose. You don’t calculate profitability on a day-to-day basis.
I’m sure you could run a hundred wagons 24/7 and still be in the red, leasing the newest greatest trucks won’t help you with competing with the companies who buy trucks for a third off and satisfied to make a profit of one tenth per truck of what you need just to survive.