Truck dump plan favours the big fleets
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• Hauliers are welcoming industry proposals which would encourage them to scrap older LGVs, but say incentives suggested are skewed in favour of the larger fleet operator.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) wants the Government to go further than other European countries in curbing pollution by introducing a scrapping scheme for LGVs as well as cars and LCVs.
Almost 30% of LGVs on the road today are more than 10 years old, compared to 21% a decade ago. Under the proposal, owners of 10 year old vehicles would receive a 10% discount on the list price of a new truck, or 8% of the price of a used truck, provided it met Euro 1 emissions standards.
The idea has won the approval of the Freight Transport Association, but it says few operators would be able to make the jump from a 10 year old vehicle to a nearly new truck. A better alternative, it says, would be to offer bigger capital allowances on truck purchases.
The proposals are being considered by the all party Motor Industry Group and the SMMT is hopeful the scheme could be introduced in this autumn's budget. The Department of Transport is less optimistic about its chances.
"Old LGVs aren't necessarily the worst polluters," says a spokesman. "If the aim is to reduce pollution, we believe there are better ways to target the problem."