New proposal aimed at non UK Based Haulage firms

On Wednesday the Government announced new proposals which would charge HGV’s or lorries over 12 tonnes £10 per day for using British roads. The move is designed to enforce a contribution from foreign road users. The law states however that the scheme would not be able to discriminate between UK registered vehicles and vehicles registered outside of the UK, meaning all would have to pay the charge – British Hauliers would however be able to claim the charge back against road tax.

The Department for Transport added that only 6% of UK based hauliers would pay more tax under the new scheme.

The move has been widely welcomed by British hauliers, Kate Gibbs of the Road Haulage Association stated “(this is) good news for UK transport operators and should be welcomed also by motorists, many of whom have complained that foreign hauliers pay nothing for using our roads”.

Wednesday’s new proposal followed a three month consultation period with roads minister Mike Penning, who believes that the proposal will create a fairer working environment  ”helping to level the playing field with foreign hauliers, boosting their market share and increasing employment and promoting growth in the UK”.

Penning added: “Each year there are around 1.5m trips to the UK by foreign registered lorries – but none of them pay to use our roads, leaving UK businesses and taxpayers to foot the bill.

The Campaign for Better Transport believes however that the government were letting foreign lorries off lightly. Stephen Joseph said “a distance-based charging scheme would raise more revenue that could fund a more efficient, greener freight industry.”