RHA Parliamentary Reception – Government pledges support on key priorities

More than 200 guests attended the RHA’s Parliamentary Reception at the Palace of Westminster on 10 January.

Hauliers, coach operators, stakeholders and parliamentarians heard from the roads minister and other key figures at the rescheduled annual event in the capital.

RHA members were joined by around 60 MPs as the association launched its 2024 haulage manifesto which sets out a vision to support the industry and boost the economy amid crippling cost hikes.

Roads Minister, Guy Opperman paid tribute to the industry in his keynote speech and said operators could rely on the support of the Government.

“We are investing massively in our roads; we are repurposing money that was going to go on the second leg of HS2 into infrastructure and roads. There is 8.3 billion pounds going into pothole and road repairs.”

He added that the Government has earmarked extensive investment in Network North to upgrade and improve major road networks and said firms should see transformational change over the next few years.

The minister acknowledged the challenges operators face with rising costs and pledged to support the industry on its key priorities: “We will support you on decarbonisation, we will support you on driver welfare and we will support you on people. But most of all we will support you by driving forward an economy that is regenerating in a way that the goods and services that you are transporting are going to find a home and that your businesses will thrive.”

Shadow Minister for Wales, Jessica Morden MP urged MPs to visit commercial vehicle operators to better understand the needs of the industry. She said: “In my own constituency (Newport East), there are 13 Road Haulage Association businesses, and I had the pleasure of visiting, Alan R Jones & Sons in Newport to discuss the work they do and to hear from them about some of the local issues that they face.

She echoed the RHA’s call Apprenticeship Levy reform to help firms “better introduce young people and those making career switches into the logistics industry.”

“There’s much more we can do in terms of having an industrial strategy with road haulage, with a strong partnership between business, government and trade unions to provide the certainty that the industry needs.”

Greg Smith, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Road Freight and Logistics (APPG), said that improving driver facilities is a big focus for the cross-party group.

“The Government put some good money into that last year but we've still got a long way to go to ensure that we have the roadside facilities that all of our drivers want to see that are safe and secure.” The Buckingham MP added that freight crime needs to be “taken far more seriously” to protect drivers and the loads they’re carrying.

On plugging skills gaps he said that the APPG is doing work on improving recruitment and retention in the industry.

Moreton Cullimore, RHA chair said: “Since the pandemic there's been real recognition about the importance of the road haulage and coach industry.

“We enable businesses across the economy and are a driving force behind economic growth. Ninety percent of all freight is moved by road. We recognise the policy decisions the Government has made to address the driver shortage, a future of freight strategy and work to improve the quality and quantity of truckstops; we must protect our drivers out on the UK roads.”

He said that costs of operating a typical 44-ton truck rose by nearly ten percent last year, as more than 450 hauliers went bust and called for more support for the sector.

“Collaboration will drive investment and growth for the economy – we need government of all levels to work with us and continue investing in the infrastructure we rely on.”