RHA: Direct action on fuel by haulage firms not likely
Date: 03 December 2007
The Road Haulage Association (RHA) has canvassed its members on whether or not public protests against fuel duty increases are warranted.
Rising fuel tax has impacted severely on freight haulage firms, which rely heavily on diesel as one of their biggest operating costs.
The RHA sent emails or faxes to more than 8,000 members, and consulted at regional councils.
Roger King, chief executive of the group, said: "Gauging views via correspondence is notoriously difficult to do in terms of obtaining a response, such exercises normally only ever get a four to five per cent return and this was no exception.
"It is fair to say the majority that did make their feelings known favoured action but not all of these were prepared to commit vehicles and no consensus was evident in either time or place."
It was decided that a general willingness to embark upon a public protest programme had not been indicated.
However, the RHA will continue to press government ministers on the "disastrous impact of high fuel prices" on UK freight haulage firms.
It will also look for an increase in VAT on diesel by converting existing duty rates into a higher VAT reclaimable by hauliers.
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