Foreigners own 10% of anics on UK roads
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fi One in ten of the heaviest trucks on UK roads is now foreign. according to the latest government figures.
There are now around 729,000 foreign vehicle jour
neys per year in the UK—an increase of 50% over the past two years—while figures released this week show that the number of UK-registered vehicles over 37 tonnes CVW
has remained relatively static at 83.500. This means that on an average day there will be between 7.000 and 8,000 foreign trucks in the UK—about 10% of the total.
The Freight Transport Association says that as a consequence of Government policy 'the growth of UK international haulage has been stifled by foreign operators' ability to offer back loads to Europe at very cheap rates".
A spokesman adds: 'The recently introduced Forum must signal an end to the fuel
duty escalator which has increased transport costs so greatly without producing any of the environmental benefits which the Government claimed to be its purpose."
• The second meeting of the Industry Forum has now been postponed until July, leaving both trade associations frustrated and disappointed.
The ETA says: "It is very, very unsatisfactory that it has taken so long. Both the president and the director-general of the FTA have told the Government they are available at any moment."