Hauliers Welcome Charges For Foreign Trucks

The UK's hauliers have welcomed an announcement by the roads minister, calling for a charge to be levied on foreign goods vehicles.

Announcing the plan, Roads Minister Mike Penning said most EU states charged lorries for using their roads, which meant British vehicles had to pay to drive in Europe, while foreign lorries can drive for free in the UK.

Mike Penning said: "We want to ensure that UK hauliers get a fairer deal and help maintain the competitiveness of our logistics industry.

"Each year there are around 1.5 million trips to the UK by foreign registered lorries – but none of them pays to use our roads, leaving UK businesses and taxpayers to foot the bill.

"The proposals I have set out today will ensure that all hauliers who use our roads are contributing to their cost, regardless of where they are from."

The proposed scheme will levy a time-based charge of around up to £10 a day for lorries of 12 tonnes or over using any road in the UK. The precise level of charges will depend on exchange rate and inflation at the time of implementation – likely to be 2015, subject to the legislative programme.

The Road Haulage Association welcomed the government’s proposals calling the scheme "good news for UK transport operators".

“The RHA has been working with government officials to get the best scheme possible under EU rules and we believe this is what the new proposals represent. We are urging ministers to press forward with this project as a priority, both in terms of Parliamentary time and commercial dealings, so that the original deadline of spring 2014 start-up can be met.”

(DW)