Green hauliers need cash
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• The British Government should put up money to persuade hauliers to go green, according to the freight manager for French railways (SNCF).
Jean Labbe, speaking in London last week, explained that the French government leases equipment at favourable rates to hauliers who want to invest in intermodal transport. "The basic attitude of the French government and the British Government is different," he said, "what we are doing you would call a subsidy — we call it a contract."
The French government wants to reduce the level of road traffic and congestion," said Labbe, "if the British Government wants to do the same it should put its money where its mouth is."
"Good intentions and even goodwill unfortunately are not enough. There remains the crucial problem of investment for the hauliers themselves if they are to use intermodal transport," said Labbe.
The French government's Contrat Top scheme allows hauliers to lease equipment for five years.
Hauliers qualify by stating the level of traffic they hope to carry by combined transport techniques. The haulier then chooses up to 10 vehicles — either semitrailers, swap bodies or skeletal chassis.
The cost of the equipment is covered by a loan from the Banque Europeenne d'Investissement. After five years the hauliers can buy the equipment.
The French government is running the £4.5m scheme for an initial two-years, providing a total of 225 units.
According to Labbe, it will save the French .5.4m on its petrol import bill over two years.
"There is of course appreciable benefits to the environment including reduced carbon dioxide emission and reduced pressure on the motorways."