Full Breakdown
Rising Diesel Prices Threaten Scottish Haulage Operations
By Drooid · · How we work
Scope of Price Increases
BBC Scotland analysis identifies at least 226 fuel stations across Scotland where diesel now exceeds £2 per litre. The highest prices appear in island and rural locations, with 238.8 p and 223 p per litre reported in the Hebrides and 209.0 p and 208.9 p in the Northern Isles.
Impact on Haulage Businesses
Norman MacAskill, owner of N D MacAskill & Son, says diesel now costs £2.22 per litre—up from 32 p when he started 40 years ago. He describes the surge as “devastating” for any lorry operator and warns that many long-standing firms face “going to the wall.”
Dave Neil of Sinclair Haulage, which serves Orkney’s Sanday, Stronsay and Eday, reports a weekly diesel cost increase of roughly £400 compared with the previous summer. To offset the rise, his company has added a surcharge to customer invoices, stating it will be removed when fuel prices fall.
Official Statements & Responses
Both hauliers stress that the sustained price climb has eroded profit margins and forced operational adjustments. MacAskill notes the trend has persisted for a decade, while Neil emphasizes the immediate cash-flow pressure, describing the situation as “challenging.” Neither indicates any imminent relief from fuel suppliers or government intervention.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This has been going on every year for the last 10 years now. The cost of running a haulage business has just gone over the top.” — Norman MacAskill
Outlook
The analysis suggests that continued high diesel prices could push additional rural haulage firms—many with half-century histories—into financial distress. Without a significant drop in fuel costs, operators may be compelled to maintain surcharges or reduce services, potentially affecting livestock transport routes between the Highlands and England.