Road pricing 'no benefit'
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• The prospect of road pricing has been rejected by hauliers as failing to offer any real benefits, says a report, London Congestion Charging: Commercial Vehicle Responses.
The report, commissioned by the Department of Transport, surveyed 50 London transport operators, few of whom accept suggested levels of improvement in journey times as realistic.
Urger companies are unlikely to alter current patterns of movement and smaller operators are concerned about the impact of road pricing costs.
Own-account operators are most despondent about the prospect of road pricing: they fear they will be unable to control costs and may become uncompetitive compared with hauliers.
The cost of road pricing, after congestion benefits have been taken into account, will be passed on to consumers. Its introduction is also likely to increase the market shares of the major players at the expense of small businesses.