Insight and Know-How

• Transport.

Companies are particularly keen to exhibit at this year's Commercial Vehicle Show in Birmingham, one of the event's organisers has revealed.

According to the Road Haulage Association (RHA), 260 exhibitors have so far arranged to showcase their products and services at the trade show, which takes place at the city's National Exhibition Centre on April 24th to 26th. This, it said, is 48 per cent higher than the amount of bookings it had secured 12 months ago for the 2011 event.

Geoff Dunning, chief executive of the RHA, said the level of interest in the trade show has exceeded his expectations. However, he stressed that the organisation will not be attending it for "fun".

Indeed, Mr Dunning said it has a responsibility to be present, as it can provide guidance to haulage companies on areas such as driver safety, training and absorbing high diesel prices, as well as technical, financial and employment issues.

"2012 is going to be a big year for UK hauliers," he commented.

"You will be the ones who, quite literally, will be delivering the 2012 Olympics, not just to the nation's capital, but to all the other venues around the country which will be hosting events."However, he stressed that the work carried out by companies that are not involved in the Games will also be crucial over the coming months.

Mr Dunning described the road haulage sector as a "very accurate" barometer of the UK economy, as it has to engage with industries such as manufacturing, agriculture, construction and retail. As a result, the performance of hauliers can be indicative of much wider economic trends.

According to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics, gross domestic product in the UK fell by 0.2 per cent between October and December 2011. This means the UK will officially be in a recession if a further contraction occurs in the first quarter of 2012.