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Mote Does someone in the industry deserve a pat on the back, or a dressing down? Drop us a line at Commercial Motor, Doom 1120S, Quadrant House, The Quadrant, Sutton, Surrey SM2 5AS or fax us on 0181 652 8969. Alternatively you can e-mail us on Miles.Brignall#rbi.co.uk.
RALLYING CALL
I understand the Government's obligation to legally binding international pollution targets. So why does the rest of Europe not have a fuel duty escalator? Why does the USA, which is a major polluter, have fuel at under $1 per gallon?
The fact of the matter is that this and the previous government have used these arguments as excuses for raising taxes at the expense of hauliers and the general public, As regards the total tax burden on business in the UK, as opposed to the EU, once again this is spread over all businesses. What the Government is doing is targeting one specific business on which to place these excessive taxes.
As far as recent independent reports are concerned—get real. Look at the number of hauliers going bust. I do not know anyone who is making a reasonable living in this industry—most of us are clinging on by our fingertips.
If the Government believes that this industry is strong then it really needs to open its eyes and address the problems that it is causing within it. The only reason that it established the Forum was because of the protests by Trans-Action. I do not believe the competition from foreign hauliers is the major problem— although it is a considerable one, it can be addressed by -; daily charges and limitations an the amount of fuel brought into the UK. The major problem is the extremely high cost of fuel duty and VED which are increased every year with larger and larger rises. These rises cannot be passed on to industry as they simply will not stand these increases.
Does the Government not realise that it is systematically destroying the UK haulage industry bit by bit, year by year? Everyone left in haulage is fed up. and many are desperate. Do ministers like Prescott and Reid realise that 95% of all goods go by road, and that without doubt the hauliers—if united—are the most powerful group in industry, without exception? If the haulage industry flexed its muscles this country would stop within a matter of hours.
People in the haulage industry have had enough: livelihoods are being lost every day—the protests will go on and escalate, M Dodds, Michael Dodds Transport, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear.