The Freight Transport Association has been asking commercial vehicle freight operators in the parcel, 3PL, retail and bakery transport sectors to provide evidence to support its call to protect the current systems, which allow UK hauliers the right to operate trailers above four metres.

The EC’s proposals threaten to change the existing rules (to comply with certain safety and environmental standards) and to restrict the height to 4 metres. However following intensive lobbying, the EC announced it would consider raising this to 4.88 metres, but the FTA thinks this is not enough.

Andy Mair, FTA’s Head of Engineering Policy, said,”All the evidence points to the fact that many significant operators in the UK use trailers that would be outlawed if EC proposals went ahead; the cost saving and CO2 benefits of higher trailers would be lost too. The truth is that there is a substantial chunk of our logistics sector that operate trailers over 4.88 metres.Ideally we would like the height limit for all trailers, not just double-deck, to be set at least 4.95″.

The Freight Transport Association has condemned the latest fuel duty increase of 0.76 pence per litre that comes into effect on the 1st January 2011. This will be the third rise in fuel duty since April 2010 and puts a further strain on operating costs of UK hauliers.

This fuel duty increase will push diesel prices to within four pence per litre of the all-time highs reached in July 2008, when oil prices were as $145 a barrel.  Diesel represents about 35 per cent of running a truck and this additional burden is likely to be passed onto customers, where possible.

The FTA’s Chief Economist, Simon Chapman, commented,”Diesel is not an optional extra for the industry. It is essential to keep shops stocked and businesses supplied with materials. Rises in fuel commodity prices have already left operators facing diesel prices nine pence per litre higher than a year ago-adding £3,800 per year to the bill of running an articulated truck. This latest fuel duty increase, together with those previously introduce this year will add a further £1,200 per year”.

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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”.