Memorandum by RT Steward Transport (RH33)
The haulage industry has been so hard hit by
this Labour Government that it can stand no more increases at
all.
There are several points that have led my Company
to make no profit over the last two years which are as follows:-
(a) The cost of derv is too high we have
to use low sulphur derv with less MPG and are the only Country
who runs its vehicles on it which costs more. What we want is
an essential rebate.
(b) VED cost is up by 100 per cent on 1998
when in Europe ie Holland a 4 x 2 Tractor Unit cost £650.00
in England £3,950.00 to run at 40 ton. The tax on a 4x2 Tractor
Unit at 40 tonne with the £1,000 emission certificate would
cut the cost to £2,950.
(c) We at RT Steward Transport have flagged
out some 10 trucks in Holland a saving of £8,400.00. Money
this Government does not get. Fuel cost in Holland is 44 pence
per litre including tax. In the UK it cost 63 pence plus tax.
(d) Unfair competition we see cost of fuel
in England some 33 per cent more expensive than in the rest of
Europe and also all fuels in Europe are not ultra low sulphur
causing more pollution. They do not pay tolls like we have to
in their Country.
(e) Drivers from the Eastern Block are employed
by European Companies costing them £500.00 per month for
two men in a cab. Is this fair competition?
(f) We in Great Britain have to keep to the
ruling that is made in Europe and they break every one costing
us money.
(g) Cabotage should not have been stopped.
This would make sure that the amount of European vehicles could
be cut by 80 per cent that come into the UK.
(h) We have a driver shortage in the UK causing
us problems to find good drivers. This has put our costs up by
some 25 per cent over the last twelve months. We cannot put investment
back into our industry, as we make no profit at all. We now see
that our industry has lost some 20,000 jobs and vehicles flagging
out are some 10,000 in Holland alone.
We request that this Government looks at our
industry, and if something is not done we are unable to carry
on.
Bob Steward
Managing Director
February 2000
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