Diesel has now passed £2 a litre in the UK, reaching record levels.

And with further fuel duty increases planned, the pressure on transport and logistics costs is only set to grow.

For anyone running a warehouse, a distribution centre or a fleet, this is not just a headline. It is a cost line that directly affects margins.

And it is one you have very little control over.

But there is another major cost in every high-volume operation that deserves the same attention — and one where you may have far more influence: your temporary workforce.

Most operators judge agency labour on one number: the hourly rate.

Yet the real cost can sit elsewhere.

Unfilled shifts. Workers leaving before they are fully trained. Overtime to cover gaps. Compliance risks. And the hours spent managing problems that should have been prevented in the first place.

When fuel prices are putting margins under pressure across the supply chain, understanding these costs matters more than ever.

That is why we created True Cost Clarity™ at MCI People.

A complimentary review that looks beyond the headline rates to understand what your temporary workforce is really costing you, where value may be getting lost, and what could be improved.

No obligation. No pressure. Just clarity.

This week, I will be visiting high-volume operations in Birmingham, Hams Hall, Wolverhampton, Coventry, Rugby, Northampton, Tamworth and across the East Midlands.

These are 24/7 operations, running every shift, seven days a week, with a significant reliance on temporary labour.

If that is your operation and you would value an open, honest conversation about your workforce costs, I would be delighted to come and see you.

I am old school. Nothing beats a face-to-face conversation. But if you are further afield, or a Teams call suits you better, I am always happy to arrange one.

Send me a direct message or visit mcipeople.co.uk and head to Contact.

At MCI People, we believe in leading with value, contribution and care.

Always.