UK: Introduction of charges for foreign lorries

Foreign lorries are to be charged to use the UK's roads in an effort make thing fairer for British hauliers who have to pay use foreign motorways. The charge will be up to £1000 (€1244) and will also be payable by British haulage companies, this will then be off set by a cut in excise duty. The legislation should be in place by spring 2013.

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: "These proposals will deliver a vital shot in the arm to the UK haulage industry.

"It is simply not right that foreign lorries do not pay to use our roads, when our trucks invariably have to fork out when travelling to the continent.

One British haulier, Graham Eardley from Eardley International is welcomes the new charges and says "they are long over due and should create a level playing field." Although he is still concerned about the issue of cabotage and think more could be done to control this.

Road Haulage Association chief executive Geoff Dunning said, "we have been campaigning for years to see a system introduced which will lessen the financial advantage currently enjoyed by our European neighbours," he said.

It is not good news for other counties however, such as Holland where they do not charge foreign drivers to use the motorways. This charge will only increase costs for an already stretched logistics sector. Dutch haulier Adri Visbeen from Dailyfresh Logistics, said it was pure protection for British haulage companies and may lead to charges being introduced in other EU countries which the sector could not handle.

Haulage companies will also have to deal with a new "Eco tax" to be introduced in France in 2013, this will be a GPS based tolling system, which as well as charging for motorways will also charge drivers for using the national roads.