With Fuel Duty remaining frozen at £57.95p peer litre, HGV Road User Levy suspended for a further year, Vehicle Excise Duty frozen for HGV’s and over £32 Million to be invested into roadside facilities, yesterday’s budget highlighted big wins for the haulage industry.
RHA MD for Policy and Public Affairs, Rod McKenzie said: “These are very welcome measures for the UK’s hard-pressed haulage industry already battling chronic driver shortages and other substantial challenges to maintaining the efficiency of the nation’s supply chain.”
The RHA also welcomes the investment by the Government in zero-emission HGV technologies. It is important that we have a clear understanding of how these technologies can apply to the diversity of HGVs which exist. We look forward to working through the detail that arises from this investment to inform our sector’s ability to plan.
Government’s investment into roadside facilities is another issue that has long been a campaign objective of the Association. “This is a major victory for our demands that truckers need better facilities,” continued Rod McKenzie. “Somewhere safe to park with good toilet and washing facilities is vital. It is crucial that Government continues to work with the industry to improve conditions as this will also act as an encouragement to potential truck drivers, particularly women.”
Clearly, we need to see the detail of how the money will be used and in which areas, but it’s certainly a welcome start.
