However, the FTA (Freight Transport Association) and RHA (Road Haulage Association) had very different takes on what was said, and what was meant.
"FTA members will be pleased and impressed that two issues raised at our Driver Crisis Summit have been so swiftly addressed," said James Hookham, managing director of policy and communications at the FTA.
"Speeding up driving test bookings for truck drivers and medical assessments will help us get qualified drivers on the road quicker and more reliably, helping industry address its shortfall of 60,000 drivers," he explained.
But RHA chief executive Richard Burnett observed that the Chancellor George Osborne had "failed to make a commitment to targeted funding for hauliers", despite intensive lobbying by the RHA and, with the current shortage of drivers standing 45,000, the industry remains in crisis.
"The Chancellor's rejection at this stage of our call to support the cost of getting UK residents licensed and qualified to drive heavy goods vehicles is a poor one for the economy, for tax receipts and for the industry," insisted Burnett.
"But we note his commitment to finding an industry-led solution with the right level of funding support, and we look forward to further discussions," he added.
Burnett was referring to the Chancellor's statement that the government will work with road haulage firms on an industry-led solution to the driver shortage, "including looking at the right level of access to, and funding support for training".
In its pre-Budget submission to the Chancellor, FTA had also pressed the Chancellor for appropriate funding to support for vocational skills, in order to help address the current driver shortage problem.
"Solving [the driver shortage problem] in the longer term means attracting more young people to the industry," stated Hookham.
"The cost of acquiring the necessary licence [£3000] acts as a major barrier to many young people and we are pleased that George Osborne will work with industry to ensure funding can be provided to overcome this problem."
As for the now routine fuel duty freeze, both the FTA and RHA welcomed the news, but expressed disappointment that the Chancellor did not taken the opportunity to boost the economy by reducing fuel duty by 3 pence per litre.