RHA welcomes charge on foreign hauliers

The news that the Government intends to go ahead with plans to introduce a charging system whereby foreign operators pay to use UK roads gets the thumbs up from the Road Haulage Association.

“This is a happy day for road hauliers”, said RHA Chief Executive Geoff Dunning. “We have been campaigning for years to see a system introduced which will lessen the financial advantage currently enjoyed by our European neighbours. UK hauliers travelling to mainland Europe have to pay road charges but foreign registered vehicles travelling to the UK pay nothing.

“We were encouraged when this proposal was first announced at the beginning of the year. At that time it was suggested that a charging system would be in place and working by 2014. To hear that the Government intends to have a system in place no later than the end of the current Parliament is a real added bonus.

“We expect a charge of about £1000 per year”, continued Geoff Dunning, “This is not enough to give us a level playing field as regards the rest of Europe, but it is a good start and will help no end in beginning to prepare the ground.

“We are pleased that Mr McLoughlin has seen fit to bring forward this legislation so early in his tenure as Transport Minister; he is obviously very aware as to the important role played by UK hauliers in rebuilding the economy, increasing UK competitiveness and boosting growth.”