Editorial Haulage hopes up in smoke
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CHANCELLORS of the Exchequer are, or should be, impervious to public criticism. The very nature of their post guarantees them the unenviable role of arch villian every Budget Day. This week Nigel Lawson follows a long line of Chancellors who run the gauntlet of verbal abuse.
No amount of abuse, however, will alter the Finance Bill. Any thoughts by the road haulage lobbies that they will get the extra fuel tax reduced are pipe dreams. This was apparent from the reception he received on Tuesday.
The increase in fuel duty was predictable. But what a pity that instead of imposing more vehicle excise duty on heavy vehicles Mr Lawson did not abolish the tax altogether. He could have recouped the loss by adding even more to fuel. That would also have reduced the tax collection points and plugged the hole of tax evasion.
Nigel Lawson should have left ved alone. Either he or one of his successors in office will one day grasp this nettle.
The additional fuel tax, even in the worst operating circumstance, will add about £350 annually to the running cost of a maximum capacity artic. That calculation can be made and should be shown to every customer of every operator nationwide. The additional ved will greatly add to the burden.
If the industry indulges in the by now all too familiar self-pitying ritual, it will find few friends offering shoulders to cry on. The only way to tackle this situation is to make customers aware of the additional cost burden.
There is always the positive side. to be considered. How many own-account operators are even now considering surrendering their 0-licences and looking for reputable hauliers to take over their transport function?