Industry welcomes news on foreign truck tax revenue

The Road Haulage Association has welcomed the government’s announcement that income from the HGV road user levy, designed to bill foreign truck operators for their use of the UK’s roads, has exceeded expectations by almost £20m (Transport Operator, April).

Operators of goods vehicles over 12 tonnes from 90 other countries have purchased more than 1.8 million levies since the scheme was launched in April 2014, raising more than £44 million for the UK Treasury.

About 26 per cent of foreign hauliers paying the levy are from Poland, with 12 per cent from Romania and eight per cent from Spain. An additional £1 million has been raised in penalty charges from non-compliant foreign operators.

RHA policy director Jack Semple said the levy was “a success story”.

“The RHA had very productive discussions with the Department for Transport as the scheme was being developed and it was brought in smoothly and on time – even though the schedule was quite demanding,” he said.

“A year on from the launch, the levy appears to be delivering for the haulage industry exactly what we were hoping for.”

Officially announcing the revenue figures, transport minister Robert Goodwill said: “The HGV levy is proving a huge success and it is absolutely right that all trucks using UK roads should make a contribution to the wear and tear they cause.

“This levy is supported by the British haulage industry and has levelled the playing field for operators. UK-registered vehicles regularly pay their way through tolls and user charges in Europe and it is only fair that foreign HGVs are not exempt from charges in this country.”