FFUK slams hauliers for lack of support
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By Laura Hailstone and Roger Brown
PETER CARROLL, founder of the FairFuelUK (FFUK) campaign, has hit out at the lack of support from haulage firms in the fight for a fair deal on fuel duty.
“Fighting for a fair deal on fuel is a war. To fight that war, you need resources,” he says. “Not a single large-scale operator from any sector has offered financial support. None have come forward to publicly associate themselves with the campaign. Some individual members of the Transport Association [TA] have shown support, but the TA fails to support it officially.” Since its inception in January 2011, FFUK has attracted more than 243,000 signatures to its petition and has been responsible for averting 9ppl of extra fuel duty over the past 12 months.
“I get the impression that many in this industry, including those who complain the most about fuel, think ditching the 9p worth of rises just happened,” Carroll says.
FFUK is working to fight the planned 3p rise for August the Chancellor announced last month in the Budget. “I am asking every operator to follow the lead of the Road Haulage Association (RHA) and Freight Transport Association (FTA) and back us. Stop bemoaning the level of duty. Support us. Sponsor us,” Carroll adds.
TA company secretary Marion Romaines tells CM: “The TA is a non-political organisation and we don’t get involved in political campaigns. All our 60 haulage members are also members of the RHA.” Anne Preston, chairwoman of Prestons of Potto, says: “I’ve always been a massive supporter of the FFUK campaign. Large companies rely on smaller firms as subcontractors so they should back the campaign for the good of the industry. It is important the big companies get onboard because the government will listen a lot more to the Wincantons, Stobarts and DHLs of this world. Although fuel is not a big part of their turnover, they can open a lot more doors to government than we can.” The UK MD of transport at DHL Supply Chain, Hugh Basham, says: “On this issue, we are letting the FTA and the RHA do our lobbying for us.” ● To back FFUK, contact Peter Carroll on 07866 800 755 or peter@ petercarroll.co.uk