RHA welcomes Post Office report

The Road Haulage Association is pleased at the findings of the recent report from the Post Office confirming the extortionate price of diesel in the UK compared to the rest of Europe.

“This is an issue we have been pushing to the top of the political agenda for a long time”, said RHA spokesperson Kate Gibbs.  “Although the report focuses on the cost to the holidaymaker, they at least have the advantage of choosing a destination where the price of fuel may well be less than that paid here at home.  As the report says, compared with the UK, they will be quids in wherever they drive in Europe”.

The UK haulier has no such luxury of choice.  Today, the average pump price for diesel stands at £1.20 per litre - the pre-tax price is 45 pence per litre. 

“UK hauliers are providing an essential service yet they are seemingly being penalised.  And to add insult to this particular injury, we are seeing more and more foreign hauliers on UK roads, their trucks filled with tanks of diesel fuel bought on the continent for a price that is considerably lower than their UK counterparts.”

“How many more sectors of trade and industry will it take to become aware of this gross tax differential before our new Government sits up and takes notice?” she continued. “We have already heard that new transport chief Philip Hammond will be exploring ‘pay-as-you-drive’ charges for foreign HGVs. We need these ‘explorations’ to become a matter of extreme urgency and not just another issue to be put on the back burner”.

Road Haulage Association – phone us first

For more details, contact RHA Head of Media Relations, Kate Gibbs on . . .

Tel:    +44 (0) 1932 838917

Mob: + 44 (0) 7979 531451