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All-time low for UK share of international road freight
Page 12
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The ETA blames foreign carriers "laden with cheap fuel", allowing them to offer cut-price backload rates to the Continent. Dylan Gray reports.
FFIE UK'S MARKET share of nternational road freight has hit a tow low, according to provisional ;overnment figures.
In 2006 the market share held by UK international hauliers dropped to 25.4%, from 50% in 1991. The fall is due to fierce price competition from foreign carriers, who are offering cut-price backload rates for UK freight to the con anent.
A Freight Transport Association spokesman says: "We've been looking into the problem of foreign lorries, but don't know what to do.The vehicles come across the Channel laden with cheap fuel and are subsequently available for a cheap return journey."
Figures in the Department for Transport's Roads Goods Vehicles Travelling to Mainland Europe: 2006 reveal that operators from the recent accession states are steadily increasing their share of the market by taking advantage of lower labour costs.
These operators now account for 11% of all road freight traffic within mainland Europe compared with a figure of just 6% two years ago.
The PTA's spokesman adds: "This report confirms that we're almost back where we started. There was talk of road-user charging [for trucksl, which would have made a more even playing field for all operators, but that never happened.
"It's difficult to do anything about this situation."