RHA director of policy Jack Semple says the RHA is already seeking an urgent meeting with skills minister Nick Boles following the announcement of the levy by Chancellor George Osborne.
"Mr Boles has rejected the proposal for an HGV driver apprenticeship, which his department had invited," says a less than happy Semple.
"We have asked officials how a large road haulage firm, employing primarily lorry drivers, can get its levy back when no apprenticeship is available. We await their response."
Semple makes the point that large hauliers might want to offer business and traffic office apprenticeships, but says that "hardly compensates for the lack of an HGV driver apprenticeship".
And he adds that RHA members are becoming increasingly concerned about driver shortages, the growing reliance on foreign drivers and "major retailers poaching drivers with the promise of large bonuses on the run-up to Black Friday and Christmas".
Says Semple: "The government has repeatedly refused to support transport firms in meeting the cost of training new drivers. Now they appear to be talking about a levy for apprenticeships that they have refused."