Road Haulage Association and Freight Transport Association Unite in Treasury Approach to Highlight Plight of UK Hauliers

LONDON, September 28 /PRNewswire/ --

- With Photo

On Friday 28th September, the Chief Executives of the UK's leading
transport associations, the Road Haulage Association and the Freight
Transport Association, delivered a declaration and letter to the Chancellor
of the Exchequer at HM Treasury on behalf of their members.

"This declaration was delivered on behalf of more than 20,000 road
transport operators who make up the membership of our two associations," said
RHA Chief Executive Roger King.

"We hope that today's declaration (see below) will have sufficient impact
for the Chancellor to consider his proposals to increase fuel duty by 2ppl on
Monday 1 October and further increases scheduled over the next 18 months.

"The Road Haulage Association produces a weekly fuel price bulletin based
on fuel price information gathered by the membership. Today's alert shows
that the average price of diesel now stands at a record high of 81.38 pence
per litre (ex VAT) and we are already hearing from members that their
suppliers are telling them to expect more increases in the next few weeks.

"It is therefore vital that the Chancellor pays heed to our plea to
abandon Monday's 2 pence per litre fuel duty increase. We are not just acting
on behalf of our members, this is in the interest of the country as a whole
because the responsibility for running an efficient and cost effective modern
economy lies with the providers of road transport. Ours is an industry that
desperately needs an incentive to continue; not a deterrent."

Diesel is by far the hauliers' largest variable cost and has already
risen by 10.05% this year. UK operators are still paying the highest levels
of fuel duty in Europe; approximately GBP13-15k more (per articulated
vehicle) than their counterparts in Continental Europe and Ireland.

Picture caption, left to Right, RHA Chief Executive Roger King, RHA
National Chairman Willie Oliver, FTA President Andrew Haines and FTA Chief
Executive Theo de Pencier on the steps of HM Treasury, prior to presenting
the joint declaration.

ROAD HAULAGE ASSOCIATION / FREIGHT TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION

Joint Declaration on Fuel Duty presented to the Chancellor of the
Exchequer on 28 September 2007

This Declaration is presented on behalf of over 20,000 goods vehicle
operators.

The Government has announced an increase in fuel duty of 2 pence per
litre from 1 October 2007. In view of the record price of oil, currently
about US$80 per barrel, and the consequent high price of diesel fuel of about
81p per litre (excluding VAT) the RHA and the FTA call upon the Chancellor to

1. Postpone the fuel duty increase proposed for 1 October, while high
world oil prices persist.

2. Introduce a fuel duty rebate mechanism for hauliers and other
essential vehicle operators to bring UK fuel duty burdens into line with the
EU average.

3. Introduction of a UK vignette or similar to assist in compiling a
database of the identity, ownership and compliance record of all
foreign-registered goods vehicles entering the UK to allow effective
enforcement of UK driving regulations and vehicle safety standards on
visiting vehicles,

4. Develop a mechanism to allow separate fuel duty rates to be set for
goods vehicles and other road users to reflect:

a. the vital role played by road haulage and freight transport in the
functioning and delivery of the UK economy

b. the intensive competition pressures from foreign operators on parts of
the road haulage sector

c. the need for investment in new vehicles and technology to maintain
high safety standards and reduce the carbon footprint of road transport

The Road Haulage Association - more than you think

Note to Editors:

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For more details, contact RHA Communications Manager Kate Gibbs on
    Tel: +44-(0)-1932-838917
    Mob: +44-(0)-7979-531451