The Cost Information Service consists of two guides aimed at reducing/benchmarking transport costs and is available to members at an additional cost. The two guides are detailed below and can be purchased together at a discounted rate or separately . Subcription to one or both of these essential guides also provides you with access to a dedicated helpline allowing you to speak to one of FTA's cost specialists.

You will benefit from

• regular information to maintain awareness and control over transport costs
• information to facilitate planning and budgeting
• guidance on trends in rates, transport and premises costs
• a stronger negotiating position to secure the best rates possible
• dedicated helpline - access to advice and bespoke data analysis from FTA's economics experts

The Manager's Guide to Distribution Costs

The Manager's Guide to Distribution Costs has been developed to enable effective monitoring and is a reliable and credible benchmarking tool for all your transport costs. A new edition of the guide is produced each year with revised data based on real-life figures drawn from a variety of industries. Subcribers then receive a quarterly update giving the most up to date information.

This guide helps identify operational cost savings by:

• allowing you to benchmark against national average rates
• assisting in the preparation of transport budgets and giving an indication of likely trends in the
  month ahead
• giving an overview of trends in rates for both national and international routes. Rates are analysed
  by consignment weight and type of vehicle

The guide provides information on:

• Wages - for drivers, workshop and warehouse staff
• Warehouse costs - to facilitate strategic decisions
• Forecasts - to aid in budgeting decisions
• Vehicle costs - running costs and overheads for vehicles from 3.5 tonne vans to 44 tonne articulated lorries
• Haulage rates - (eg temperature controlled, tanker, tipper, non-specialised)

The Manager's Fuel Price Information Guide

The Manager's Fuel Price Information Guide is an independent report, complied in association with John Hall Associates (a leading energy consultant). It informs transport professionals of the current and target price levels for diesel, gas, oil and unleaded petrol. The guide will also assist in planning and budgeting your operational fuel costs.

The Manager's Fuel Price Information Guide will help your business with:

• setting sustainable prices for transport services
• seeking remedy from customers on long-term contracts should fuel prices rise excessively
• planning and budgeting; fuel is a signifi cant element of cost for a transport operation so it really helps to have an awareness of how prices are likely to move over the coming weeks and months

The guide contains:

• 12 monthly John Hall oil reports (by post or email)
• weekly bulk diesel price reports*
• weekly forecourt fuel reports*
• weekly gas oil reports*
• monthly EU oil bulletin covering prices and duty levels in all EU states*
  *also available electronically

Keep up to date on the latest in the oil market click here to view

How to subscribe

The two guides can be purchased together at a discounted rate or separately. The subscription form for FTA members can be found below. If you wish your account to be invoiced please complete all the information and press 'submit'.

• Subscription form

For all other enquiries and for more information on this service, or to subscribe please call the Member Service Centre on 08717 11 22 22** or email memberservices@fta.co.uk .

**Please note calls may be recorded for training purposes

Further information

• Download the pdf on FTA's Cost Information Service
• Latest fuel price information