UK trucking happy with countervailing tax on continental truckers

BRITAIN's Road Haulage Association (RHA) has welcomed a government decision to charge foreign truckers using British roads because UK trucking feels the measure will help level the playing field on which they have had to pay while their rivals did not.

"This is a happy day for road hauliers," said RHA chief executive Geoff Dunning. "We have been campaigning for years to see a system introduced which will lessen the financial advantage currently enjoyed by our European neighbours."

Foreign truck drivers will have to pay GBP10 (US$16.23) a day to use British roads by 2015, under the new legislation. British truckers already pay up to GBP13 a day on the continent, but their European counterparts pay nothing in the UK.

Said UK Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin: "It is simply not right that foreign lorries do not pay to use our roads, when our trucks invariably have to fork out when travelling to the continent."

The charge is expected to cost most drivers GBP1,000 a year. Mr Dunning added: "This is not enough to give us a level playing field as regards the rest of Europe. But it is a good start and will help no end in beginning to prepare the ground."