The Road Haulage Association (RHA) has reported that exports to the EU going through British ports in January fell by 68 per cent compared to the same month last year. An article in the Observer newspaper said that the fall was mostly down to problems caused by Brexit.
The Road Haulage Association (RHA) says it is extremely disappointed that, once again, the Chancellor has failed to address the urgent need for £150 million to fund truck driver training, and it considers the omission to be a threat to economic recovery.
The Road Haulage Association has restated the seriousness of the situation at Calais, France, where it says “growing numbers of migrants… are becoming increasingly frustrated that their efforts to gain access to UK-bound trucks are being thwarted.” While Calais has slipped from the headlines somewhat since its July peak, the RHA says the problems have not gone away. The association says the measures currently being taken are not enough to protect drivers. Two days ago Calais police said officers monitoring the 6000-strong camp near the Port were pelted with rocks as migrants repeatedly tried to block roads leading to the main ferry terminal.
On Tuesday 30 June, Road Haulage Association chief executive Richard Burnett made the trip to Calais to witness for himself the “appalling conditions” under which UK hauliers are currently operating. “This action will have a massive effect on the UK economy as a whole and is putting the livelihood and lives of hundreds of hauliers at risk”, said Richard Burnett.
Richard Burnett, chief executive of the Road Haulage Association is calling for the UK Government to lead cross EU discussions to try and resolve the current crisis situation in Calais. “It is totally unacceptable for hard working truck drivers to have to run the gauntlet of fear and intimidation that is fast becoming the norm”, he said.
On Wednesday 17 June, the Road Haulage Association delivered an urgent plea to the Prime Minister demanding government intervention to help with the chronic truck driver shortage, which is having a profound effect on the UK’s supply chain and which threatens to slow the UK economic recovery.
An article in The Scotsman says that there are warnings that the UK Government might restore the unpopular fuel duty escalator system due to falling oil prices and falling North Sea tax revenue. Three years ago George Osborne introduced a fuel stabiliser system as oil prices surged above $115 a barrel. He said “the escalator […]
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