New government means new rules for the transport industry, say RHA – part 1

The Road Haulage Association believe that the new government (be it Labour, Conservative or Liberal Democrat) needs to step up and take much more notice of the haulage and HGV driving sector. They have released a document which explains the importance of certain issues and what needs to be done about these.
Here is a summary of the document, with the RHA’s recommendations for a new government’s actions (→).

Fuel duty, fuel consumption and fuel prices
Fuel costs represent as much as 40% of the cost of running a vehicle, so operators are having to go to great lengths to minimise the amount of fuel being used. Putting up fuel duty doesn’t give them incentive to save fuel, as they are already trying to save as much fuel as they can.
→ Ensure that foreign vehicles pay for their use of UK roads, and tackle address the comparison of UK fuel duty, to that of other EU competitors.

Mode choice
Supply chains are complex, and road hauliers delivering to rail are as vital as any other aspect. Increasing tax on all LGV / HGVs will not necessarily mean that this section of a supply chain will diminish. It is impossible to get produce from a farm to a railway station, without some means of road transport.
→ Stimulate a balanced debate about the contributions water, air, rail and road can make to economic prosperity.