From Roadtransport.com:
13 December 2007
UK container haulier Robert Heald Ltd has gone into liquidation with the loss of 35 jobs. It blames difficult trading conditions and the rising price of fuel for its collapse. The firm, which had a head office in Wakefield, and a depot and office in Felixstowe, went into liquidation last week owing tens of thousands of pounds to subcontractors.
One of these is Cambridge-based Mark Doel Transport, which is owed £15,000. Mark Doel says: “Luckily we only had one driver with them. Other hauliers had more. We have heard amounts of £30,000 [owed to other subcontractors].” Robert Heald says the company was “nailed by the fuel price, allied to a failed business plan”. He adds: “A blind man on a galloping horse could see there is no future in the UK haulage industry. We thought we could trade through this, but it was impossible.” Heald operated 30 of its own trucks, and Heald says he personally guaranteed the debts on the purchase of some of these vehicles, so he is hoping to be able to operate some of them simply in order to earn the money to pay off the leases on them.
The liquidator for the company is understood to be Phil Daly, of Sheffield company Daly & Co, but nobody from the firm was available to comment on the Heald collapse last week. Robert Heald confirmed that a creditors’ meeting will be held at the Ibis Hotel, Bramley, Rotherham on 17 December. Daly & Co can be contacted on 0114 209 6262 or at The Portergate, Ecclesall Rd, Sheffield S11 8NX.
