THE GROWTH AND COST MODELS USED IN THE STUDY HAVE INDICATED THAT AFTER THE 1953 ACT ROAD HAULAGE FIRMS GREW, AND THAT THE LARGER OPERATIONS ENJOY IMPORTANT SCALE ECONOMICS IN RELATION TO VEHICLE MIX. TABULATED DATA ARE PRESENTED ON SIZE OF OPERATING BASES AND VEHICLE HOLDINGS FOR SAMPLES OF OPERATORS, EXPENDITURE BY PUBLIC HAULIERS, AVERAGE COSTS AND RECEIPTS, MAIN TYPE OF WORK AND SIZE OF FLEET, WORK CATEGORY, PUBLIC HAULAGE VEHICLES BY UNLADEN WEIGHT AND SIZE OF FLEET, DISTRIBUTION OF ROAD HAULAGE FIRMS ACCORDING TO SIZE OF FIRM. THE REGULATORY SYSTEM IN THE UK HAS BEEN LESS RESTRICTIVE THAN IN OTHER COUNTRIES, EXCEPT THE NETHERLANDS. IT IS TO BE PRESUMED, THEREFORE, THAT FIRMS IN THOSE COUNTRIES WOULD BE EVEN SMALLER THAN IN THE UK AS REGULATIONS WILL HAVE PREVENTED THEM FROM ACHIEVING A MINIMUM EFFICIENT SCALE (MES).
Abstract