Copy of What more can you do at Online Truckers.org?
| UK hauliers fear new “invasion” of foreign trucks |
|
|
|
| Written by Vascoingles | |
| Sunday, 15 June 2008 | |
|
UK road transport operators are worried that plans due to be discussed today (June 13) by EU ministers could lead to the country being swamped with even more foreign trucks. The country's Freight Transport Association (FTA), for example, issued a statement explaining that today's scheduled meeting of the Council of EU Transport Ministers in Luxembourg would discuss European Parliament proposals to liberalise the movement of lorries operating in the national territory of another country. "If such a plan goes ahead then the UK can expect an invasion of foreign lorries able to offer far cheaper haulage rates due to the lower level of fuel duty for diesel which applies throughout Europe – an average of just 25p per litre compared with the UK's 50p per litre," stated the FTA. At present, explained the association, cabotage − the ability of a lorry to carry out work in a country not its own – was restricted to work picked up on the spot market following completion of a journey making an international delivery. Now, stated the FTA, the European Parliament was proposing that such work could be by previously-agreed contract, starting with three jobs from 2009, seven jobs from 2011 and complete freedom after 2014. "The substantial difference in diesel duty means that foreign lorries working in the UK can do so at an average of 8% lower costs than can be achieved by the UK domestic industry − and for vehicles from Eastern Europe it can be up to 15% lower," said the FTA. "The liberalisation of this market presents the real prospect of the establishment of depots in Calais, or elsewhere in northern France, with foreign vehicles coming into the UK on a Monday, carrying out work in the UK throughout the week, and then returning to France to refuel at the weekend. All without paying a penny to the UK exchequer in fuel duty or road charges and without the requirement to adhere to the UK's rigorous Operator Licensing regime, which has resulted in substantial advances in vehicle maintenance and road safety." The FTA said it understood the UK Government was "very concerned" about that prospect and would be represented at the Council of Ministers by Transport Minister Rosie Winterton. "FTA hopes that Ms Winterton will succeed in avoiding this potential catastrophe for the UK transport industry," it added. Source Transport Intelligence |
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
