The British transport minister, Mike Penning want to create a fairer market for the domestic transport industry. "Every year 1.5 million foreign lorries enter the UK. The scheme should be welcomed by both UK hauliers and also by motorists, many of whom have complained to MPs about trucks paying nothing to use our roads. The scheme does not give us everything we would like but – and this is an important point, worth stressing - it is worthwhile and it is the best possible under EU law."
By law, the scheme cannot discriminate between UK-registered vehicles and vehicles from elsewhere in the EU so this charge will apply to all lorries but, for the vast majority of UK hauliers, this will not mean an increase in costs because the Government proposes to compensate them for the charge. The most likely compensation measure will be a reduction in VED for UK-registered vehicles.
Graham Eardley, a UK haulier, says the charges are well over due, "The UK has one of the highest fuel costs in Europe and this added to the an annual road tax of £1800 puts the UK haulier at a distinct disadvantage." He welcomes the charges and says it will create a level playing field within the industry.
He also says it will help to enforce the stricter cabbotage regulations.
According to Graham it costs around £300 for one of his lorries to go to the south of France and back, although the Netherlands is free, Germany and Belgium also charge lorries to use the roads.
For Rob Ligthart from Dutch haulier DailyFresh Logistics this news does come as a surprise. "This is in-line with what has been happening in UK in the last few years with regards to tighter cabbotage regulations.
"It will be a bit more difficult for Dutch transport companies, and it emphasises again the need for a European Transport Regulation." He goes on to say that it is possible that more foreign transport companies will set up an office in the UK.
According to Dutch transport organisations, Transport & Logistiek Nederland and the EVO, is will cost Dutch hauliers 200 to 300 Euro per day in an industry which already has small margins.
According to one fresh produce importer in the UK, it may be not such a good thing, as these charges may be passed on the UK importer, another said it will end up so much red tape that it will never happen.