Looking At Charging Foreign Hgvs To Use Our Motorways

[lindapalmara]

About time we redressed the balance. Costs a fortune to drive through France, Spain, Germany etc. Why should they drive free here

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42464125

[Togo]

//"Our hauliers often complain that a continental trucker comes in with a tank full of lower duty diesel, spends several days working in the country, goes away again and pays nothing towards the use of the roads," he said.//

About time too. Plus we need to be searching the wagons for contraband of all description. Illegal weapons for one, and tobacco. Can you think of anything else we should be looking for?

[Zacs-Master]

As long as you’re prepared for the price of foreign goods to increase, no problem. The profit margins which transport companies make are very slim. They won’t be able to just absorb the costs.

[dannyk13]

They shouldn't.Another anomaly of the EU rules.

[dannyk13]

ZM, Don't you think the costs will be passed to the transporters, rather than the haulage companies.

[Zacs-Master]

Explain the difference between transporters and haulage companies.

[dannyk13]

Transporters - those who transmit the goods. Hauliers- those who carry the goods.

[hc4361]

They already pay a levy

https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/hgv-levys-first-year-of-operation

[mushroom25]

this is a transporter. http://nissinuk.com/
this is a haulier. https://www.jackrichards.co.uk/

the transporters own the warehouse and logistics facilities. the hauliers are contracted to the transporters. some companies do both, but they are the exception.

[hc4361]

The more it costs to import goods in to the UK and transport them to their final destination the more those goods will cost in the shops.

[Zacs-Master]

Thanks. I’m never more amazed at people’s perception of how business works than when a finance question comes up on here.
Hpwho do you think should absorb the increased costs.

[New Judge]

“They already pay a levy”

The problem with that levy is that it is imposed on UK truck operators (who already contribute heftily to the coffers) as well as on foreign registered trucks. From the June 2015 report:

“I am pleased to announce that the HGV levy has proved to be a great success in its first year of operation. It has raised a total £192.5 million in receipts, with £46.5 million from foreign-registered vehicles and £146 million from UK-registered vehicles.”

So, about 80% of the sum raised is paid by those already paying. Of course EU rules would preclude imposing the levy only on foreign lorries.

[hc4361]

But don't forget, NJ, that the cost of the levy was deducted from the cost of the Vehicle Excise Licence (road tax) by the same amount so it did not and has not cost the UK truckers a penny more.

[lindapalmara]

We pay to use their roads so they should pay to use our roads.

[hc4361]

They already do

[mikey4444]

I am not against this in principle. As long as it isn't the thin of the wedge....I wouldn't like to see this applying to every HGV on our roads....they pay enough already.

[hc4361]

I'm all for keeping the cost of imports down - we want to attract trade in to the UK, as well as export.

I can't see how it would be possible but I would ideally want all imported goods to be unloaded at the docks and loaded on to UK registered lorries, and vice versa. It would be hugely expensive and impractical to do this, though.

[bhg481]

linda //We pay to use their roads so they should pay to use our roads //

We don't pay to use Dutch, Belgian, Luxembourg or Andorra motorways and only some of the German French and Spanish.

[Old_Geezer]

Sounds all very well, until the precedent is made and then it's applied to all. Next thing you know Big Brother's noting all your movement. If one needs to charge incoming truckers, give them a flat charge at the port of entry.

[mushroom25]

//give them a flat charge at the port of entry. //

seems to work for Switzerland....
https://www.ezv.admin.ch/ezv/en/home/information-companies/transport--travel-documents--road-taxes/heavy-vehicle-charges--performance-related-and-lump-sum-/performance-related-heavy-vehicle-charge---vehicles-licensed-abr.html

[hc4361]

Look at the cost of living in Switzerland! It ain't cheap