Diesel price hits all-time high; misery for haulage firms
Date: 02 November 2007
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The price of diesel has hit an all-time high, according to the Road Haulage Association's weekly price monitor, spelling bad news for freight haulage firms and owner operators.
Hauliers, who were recently hit by a 2p per litre increase in fuel duty, will now have to shell out 84.21p per litre, RoadTransport.com reports.
This is the 10th week in a row where diesel prices have risen, and mean that a litre of the fuel has increased from 73p to almost 85p this year. Since 1999 the price has risen by a staggering 50 per cent, placing a tremendous strain on freight haulage companies.
For logistics firms, fuel is one of the biggest operating costs and even a slight hike in pump prices can have a devastating effect.
The Freight Haulage Association (FTA) is calling for a tier system to differentiate fuel duty that applies to cars and that which applies to freight haulage trucks, which are essential for the delivery of everyday goods used by all the UK's citizens.
"We desperately need a system that separates the way we tax fuel for cars compared with fuel for commercial vehicles," the FTA's Geoff Dossetter said.
Other fuel tax hikes are likely to come into effect next year.
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