FEARS are growing over the future of an established haulage firm in the city.
Staff at AR Lunn have told the Mail up to 150 drivers are being made redundant at the company, based in Hedon Road, east Hull.
It is believed a mass meeting of staff was held at the site earlier this week.
One driver, who did not wish to be named, said: “We were told we were all being made redundant. I would say there are up to 150 of us who will be going.”
Another said: “We first got to know things weren’t right at the end of last week. We were told not to come back in because there was no money for any more wages.”
Despite the Mail submitting a number of requests for interviews, managing director Andrew Lunn has so far declined to make any comment.
A company spokesman said: “Only Mr Lunn can speak about this.”
Andrew Lunn founded the company in 1983 after taking his cue from his father, who ran a haulage business in Beverley.
By the time of its 25th anniversary in 2008, the company was employing 150 staff and operating a fleet of 102 lorries.
It specialises in transporting containers for international shipment firms to and from all the major UK ports.
The company also provides warehousing facilities for handling and storage at its Hedon Road site.
A sister company, Century Container Services, offers support services to the container industry, including repairs, sales and storage.
Mike Wilkinson, regional officer of the Unite union, said: “We have heard that all the drivers are being laid off.
“We only have one or two members there and they say they are being made redundant.
“We don’t have union recognition at the company so that is all we really know at the moment.”
Steve Biddle, regional director of the Road Haulage Association, said he could not talk specifically about the situation at AR Lunn.
But he said haulage firms were facing increasing financial pressures because of the continuing economic downturn.
He said: “Rising fuel prices are having a massive impact.
“Most hauliers operate on 14-day credit terms with their fuel suppliers and there is usually very little flexibility from the suppliers.
“Unfortunately, many customers are now extending their own payment periods to hauliers because of the economy.
“We are seeing payment periods of between 45 and 60 days being stretched to 90 days in some cases. Cash flow is a huge problem for our members.”
Mr Biddle said other rising cost pressures, from tyre prices to legislation covering improved vehicle emissions, were also to blame for a steady stream of companies closing down.
He said: “We have seen a large number of companies going to the wall in the past 18 months. They have not just been small outfits but quite large operators.
“In the northern region, which I cover, I would say between 60 and 70 hauliers have gone out of business in the past 18 months.”
source – thisishullandeastriding
