Car Leasing News

The Road Haulage Association has welcomed the Campaign for Better Transport report, which once again highlights the issue of road tolls and whether they are a guaranteed revenue earner. RHA Head of Communications, Kate Gibbs, said,” In 2009, road users contributed nearly £50 billion to Treasury coffers. £32 billion of that came from fuel duty and VAT on fuel”.

The RHA feels that implementing tolling on strategic routes would be welcomed however as reductions in congestion should follow. They also feel that foreign operators would also have to pay for the privilege of using the UK road network, which would create a more level playing field in terms of transport costs. However the RHA is also calling for reduction in fuel duty for essential users of fuel, as tolling would only be a short term solution to a long-term problem.

Ms Gibbs went onto say, “If hauliers are expected to pay the ever escalating levels of fuel duty as well as road tolls, congestion will indeed decrease as more and more transport operations are forced off the toll roads on to other untolled, and in some cases, minor roads. The knock-on effect of increased journey times and disruption to delivery schedules will place the providers of transport and businesses, which rely on an efficient transport system, in an untenable situation”.

The Road Haulage Association (RHA) has criticised the impending increase in fuel duty that is scheduled for the 1st April 2010. The planned fuel duty increase of 2.5 pence per litre comes into force on the 1st April and the RHA thinks this could mean the end for many UK hauliers.

“Diesel is the commodity on which this industry is totally reliant”, said RHA Chief Executive Geoff Dunning. “We are already paying fuel duty rates that are up to six times higher than our European counterparts. If the Chancellor goes ahead with the 2.5 increase next month, it will mean that road transport operators will, on average, be paying an extra £1,100 per year in fuel duty alone, and that’s on top of the price of the fuel itself”.

The Road Haulage Association has warned that hauliers have been hit by a nationwide crime wave with thieves stealing vehicle batteries across the UK.

Chrys Rampley, RHA security manager said,”Everyone working in the transport industry should be extra vigilant. Thieves are cutting through the security fences at transport depots to steal batteries, which I am told have a current market value of £350 a tonne and there have been reports of thefts from around the country. We are working with the police – both individual forces and the national co-ordinating body Truckpol – to combat the problem”.

Following the UK Government’s plan to cut car and van speeds on A-roads to 50mph, the Road Haulage Association wants the A-road speed limit for trucks hiked to 50mph – presently they’re stuck at 40 mph. 

The RHA wants trucks to match the UK Government’s proposed 50mph speed limit for cars and vans on A-roads, meaning that “traffic could flow at the new limit.”  It says its idea would cut tailbacks by having cars and trucks travelling at the same speed. 

“The present 20mph speed separation between trucks and other road users means cars and vans can safely overtake trucks.”  But the proposed 10mph difference is “not enough of a cushion to allow safe, legal overtaking,” says Roger King, RHA chief executive.

The Road Haulage Association is calling on the Government to take action over the disputes by French fisherman, that have affected hauliers and innocent bystanders travelling to France. French fisherman blockaded 3 French Channel ports for 2 days protesting about fish quotas, which had already been decided by the EU and France. The French Government has offered some financial compensation but so far, no review of the quotas.

Peter Cullum, RHA Head of International Affairs said ” There is a warning procedure for any threat to EU transport bottle necks but, in the case of the Channel ports, strikers make sure they get around the rules”.

Mr Cullum went onto say ” Repeated disruptions are a threat to the UK economy and the proper working of the European Union and must be dealt with as such. The RHA has asked the sponsoring department, the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform for early talks to discuss the future of this important link and making the warning procedure deliver effective outcomes”.