UK Hauliers need Lorry Charge Assurances
The BVRLA has welcomed plans to make
foreign hauliers pay for their use of UK roads.
However, the association is concerned that the government's
proposals for a lorry road user charging scheme will still result
in extra costs for some UK operators.
UK and foreign hauliers will face a charge of around £10 per day
for lorries of 12 tonnes or over, with the government planning to
compensate domestic operators with a reduction in their Vehicle
Excise Duty. Due to the minimum VED rates set out in EU law, a
small minority of UK hauliers will still end up out of
pocket.
The Department for Transport
estimates that 6% of the current UK HGV fleet will pay up to a
maximum of £79 extra per year, resulting in extra costs of around
£500,000 for the whole industry.
This would seem to contradict Transport Minister Mike Penning's
earlier pledge that "I will not bring in a lorry road user charging
scheme that costs industry money."
BVRLA chief executive John Lewis endorsed the idea of making
foreign hauliers pay their way, but said that some important
concerns still needed to be addressed.
"This scheme is long overdue and will help improve the
competitiveness of UK logistics companies.
"But we want to see some evidence that the Vehicle and Operator
Services Agency will be given adequate powers and resources to
enforce this charge.
"We also need some assurances that the government will not let the
extra costs faced by UK hauliers rise in future years. Half a
million pounds is already too much."
Source, BVRLA
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