Just wondering if theres any sign of things starting to pick up in Spain yet as far as the transport industry is concerned.
in a word no.
unemployment is at 21%, wages are going down for those lucky enough to have a job due to the spanish governments refusal to introduce the need for work visa’s like the UK government and to top it all off now the german’s have destroyed the agriculture in Andalucia with their cucumber scare
As Welshboy says, its dire - in fact at the moment probably worse than a year ago if thats possible. Add in the amount of Rumos working for half the rate in double manned trucks then its not going to improve in the foreseeable future.
Hombre:
As Welshboy says, its dire - in fact at the moment probably worse than a year ago if thats possible. Add in the amount of Rumos working for half the rate in double manned trucks then its not going to improve in the foreseeable future.
welshboyinspain:
wages are going down for those lucky enough to have a job due to the spanish governments refusal to introduce the need for work visa’s like the UK government
I tried to put it diplomatically though 
potentially there is more than enough work in Spain
but
so long as Spain buys nowt then the situation will not improve
there is now a severe problem finding trucks prepared to do Spanish export trips because they know that they will probably not find a reload.
Foreign trucks in Spain are getting scarce as there is nothing coming to Spain
the result is going to be interesting
Vasco, thats a very good point which was illustrated last christmas when UK onion importers started paying unreal money for loads from Spain to UK and even went so far as to send empty trucks to Spain to load onions. Ive seen it with citrus before, but never onions.
I suspect unfortunately that any increase in freight volumes will be taken up by the taliban though - they can work for ridiculously low rates and have the trucks on the ground.
It gets done with wine as well, the Dutch supermarket chain Albert Heijn were paying us to get trailers down to Spain empty to move their Christmas wine
Hombre:
Ive seen it with citrus before, but never onions.
Hi Hombre,
That strikes a chord with me too mate, cos I can remember countless trips to Italy where I’d go out empty with a fridge to load peaches back.
(It was mostly Cesena, but I also loaded out of Ferrara and Ravenna.)
The outward load rates from UK to Italy at the time dictated that the job simply wasn’t worth doing.
The firm I worked for wasn’t the only one to take that view either.
And the Germans blaming Spanish tomatoes and cucumbers for their e-coli outbreak a few weeks ago, even though they eventually retracted it, isn’t going to help matters either.
I’m sure Spanish growers will be able to sue for a suitable compensation package, but will the hauliers?
Simon:
And the Germans blaming Spanish tomatoes and cucumbers for their e-coli outbreak a few weeks ago, even though they eventually retracted it, isn’t going to help matters either.
I’m sure Spanish growers will be able to sue for a suitable compensation package, but will the hauliers?
Am sure you know the answer Simon, as always the hauliers won’t receive compensation.
Simon:
And the Germans blaming Spanish tomatoes and cucumbers for their e-coli outbreak a few weeks ago, even though they eventually retracted it, isn’t going to help matters either.
I’m sure Spanish growers will be able to sue for a suitable compensation package, but will the hauliers?
the news on this has been developing lately,
firstly Sr. Rubalcaba (possibly even more despised than Zapatero) announced plans to sue the german government over the cucumber fiasco, but i think the germans were worried about their sunbed allocations for the summer because “top level talks” were held and now there will be compensation paid by the EU but mainly funded by germany (saves a bit of face).
secondly a lot of the fruit growers and/or packers run their own vehicles so will be compensated appropriately, the other hauliers who were directly affected will allegedly be helped by the spanish government from the proceeds but this has to be seen to be believed especially as Rubalcaba and the haulage industry are not exactly on friendly terms since his heavy handed dealing of the truckers strike
Speak for yourselves guys but I’m alot busier than this time last year, thats down to fact that I work for frozen fish company and frozen food sales have actually increased due to the fact that its cheaper than fresh. Crisis what crisis ?
langp29:
Speak for yourselves guys but I’m alot busier than this time last year, thats down to fact that I work for frozen fish company and frozen food sales have actually increased due to the fact that its cheaper than fresh. Crisis what crisis ?
Paul, you’re busier cos they’ve given you that “new” truck and he wants it paying for 
Vascoingles:
potentially there is more than enough work in Spainbut
so long as Spain buys nowt then the situation will not improve
there is now a severe problem finding trucks prepared to do Spanish export trips because they know that they will probably not find a reload.
Foreign trucks in Spain are getting scarce as there is nothing coming to Spain
the result is going to be interesting
Sorry mate but every time I pass through La Jonqura(will take at look Wendnesday) coming from the french side I see more ex eastern block trucks parked up.In fact the supermarkets are stocking more and more cans tins or what ever from that part of the world.
froggy:
Vascoingles:
potentially there is more than enough work in Spainbut
so long as Spain buys nowt then the situation will not improve
there is now a severe problem finding trucks prepared to do Spanish export trips because they know that they will probably not find a reload.
Foreign trucks in Spain are getting scarce as there is nothing coming to Spain
the result is going to be interesting
Sorry mate but every time I pass through La Jonqura(will take at look Wendnesday) coming from the french side I see more ex eastern block trucks parked up.In fact the supermarkets are stocking more and more cans tins or what ever from that part of the world.
but the key thing is you saw them parked up not running, they sit around in packs waiting for the chance to load anything, anywhere at any price 
Sorry but I should have mentioned it was last Sunday;
"…but the key thing is you saw them parked up not running, they sit around in packs waiting for the chance to load anything, anywhere at any price …
Yesterday passing through La Jonq it was 50/50 spannish reg’d and eastern european on the road,ok the odd Dutch, Germen but no Brits.
Well its not just onions, citrus and wine that struggle to find trailers. Last week an oil exploration company was virtually begging for flat trailers to load in Algeciras for Aberdeen - it wasnt quite name your own price but not too far off.