Food transporters busier than ever, but struggling to keep their heads above water. Industry sounds alarm over low margins.
The Financieele Dagblad writes that. Lower rates, higher collectively agreed wages and insufficient manpower and equipment make for difficult times for logistics service providers. There is no money for renewal. In the run-up to the holidays, this puts the supply of shops at risk.
The big culprit? The supermarket war, believes logistics service provider Nedcargo. "We are caught between food producer and supermarket, two economic power blocks in the Netherlands," explains Diederik Jan Antvelink, director of carrier Nedcargo. As prices are under pressure, hardly any money remains for transport.
Trade association Transport en Logistiek Nederland (TLN) also complains about clients not paying carriers more than €500 per day. According to TLN director Jan Boeve, this is an "indecent demand from the shipper".
With rates too low and a shortage of manpower and equipment, logistics service providers are warning of empty shelves ahead of the upcoming holiday season. Every effort must be made to keep the supply of products well ahead of schedule. "Supermarkets will be affected themselves," says Nedcargo's Antvelink. "Maybe a major logistics service provider has to go belly up before everyone understands that things can't go on like this."
