RHA: High fuel prices are damaging road haulage firms
Date: 05 November 2007
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The Road Haulage Association (RHA) believes that fuel prices are "spiralling out of control", posing extreme difficulties for logistics firms and owner operators.
Haulage companies are currently having to pay an average of 85.70p per litre, excluding VAT, according to the RHA's weekly fuel price survey. In light of this, the group is asking the government to "seriously reconsider" any further increases in fuel duty.
"These week on week increases are spiralling out of control," said RHA communications manager Kate Gibbs.
"For many years UK hauliers have been operating at a financial disadvantage to their foreign counterparts and these continual rises in the price of diesel are just making a bad situation worse."
She also expressed disappointment that the chancellor, Alistair Darling, has not shown more understanding for the freight haulage sector, considering he used to be transport secretary.
Ms Gibbs continued: "The situation for many operators has now reached a critical point. If the proposed further increase of another two pence per litre goes ahead next spring, many hauliers may be forced out of business, providing even greater opportunities for foreign operators, who already have an unfair advantage, to fill the gap."
Fuel is one of the biggest operating costs for owner operators and larger logistics firms.
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