TfL gives its response to truckmakers’ complaints
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By Justin Stanton
TRANSPORT FOR London (TfL) has responded to the anger expressed by truckmakers over its promotion of the DAF discount for operators looking to upgrade to London Low Emission Zone (LEZ)-compliant trucks (CM 18 August).
MAN, Iveco, Scania and Volvo had expressed their unhappiness with the promotion and most complained that they had not been invited to offer an LEZ discount that would be promoted by TfL.
A TfL spokesman says: “On behalf of TfL (and the Mayor), the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders engaged with the vehicle manufacturers and invited them to offer inancial incentives to those affected and who wanted to purchase a new vehicle. “A number of manufacturers came forward and we worked with them to publicise these offers to ensure they were brought to the attention of as many people as possible.
“Sadly, DAF was the only HGV manufacturer to offer a discount. Details of these offers are provided on the TfL website (www.tl.gov. uk/lezlondon).
“We would be delighted if any other manufacturers would like to come forward to offer similar deals.
“We would seek to publicise any such further deals.
“In these times of economic austerity, one might normally expect manufacturers to welcome and take advantage of any new business opportunity and we are disappointed that a number of major manufacturers have taken this counter-productive and negative stance.” In July TfL wrote to operators with non-LEZ compliant trucks stating that Mayor Boris Johnson had negotiated bespoke offers on new trucks from DAF.
In fact, DAF approached TfL with the special offers and advice.
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