Hauliers are hit by soaring fuel costs

Jun 15 2009 By Henryk Zientek

MOTORISTS and hauliers are set for further fuel prices rises – after crude oil hit a new high for the year.

Now a Huddersfield haulage company boss has urged the Government to reduce duty levels – or see more truck operators going out of business.

Ken Taylor, who runs a haulage business at Slaithwaite, said fuel price rises coupled with high levels of duty were damaging the UK’s haulage industry.

He said: "We used to run 15 vehicles and now we run three.

"We have the highest duty rate in Europe, but our Government is too shortsighted to realise that by increasing duty it is driving operators off the road – and losing out on revenue from fuel duty, road tax, income tax and national insurance.

"I am so frustrated I’ve almost reached the point where I’m beginning to think it isn’t worth staying in road haulage."

Mr Taylor said UK hauliers were being placed at a disadvantage to their European competitors by increases in duty.

And he stressed: "What consumers don’t realise is that these fuel price increases end up on the shop shelves in terms of higher prices for things like bread, butter and jam.

"They are factored into the prices people pay for their goods and services – and that affects the quality of life for everyone."

A report by the AA this week suggested that more motorists were cutting back on car use due to rising pump prices.