Survey reveals retrofitting snub for LEZ compliance 25 August 2011

Truck and van operators faced with new London Low Emission Zone (LEZ) requirements are more likely to replace their non-compliant vehicles than retrofit filter equipment, according to a survey by the FTA.

Its study also found that operators based at depots outside London would consider redistributing their non-compliant vehicles elsewhere in the UK, in order to avoid the LEZ.

"More operators are looking to replace their fleet and [overlooking] retrofitting as the solution, because their fleets are coming to the end of their lifespan," explains Natalie Chapman, the Freight Transport Association's head of policy for London.

"Due to the financial constraints of recent years, operators have chosen to stretch the lives of their existing fleets, but the new LEZ requirements may have forced their hands into replacing their oldest and least compliant vehicles," she adds.

Other research findings included that commercial vehicle operators also indicated that they would consider redistributing vehicles that are already compliant to perform deliveries in the LEZ.

Around three-quarters felt it would be relatively straightforward to redistribute non-compliant HGVs away from London, whilst around four out of five operators felt it would be possible to redistribute non-compliant vans away from the London area.

Author
John Challen

Related Companies
Freight Transport Association Ltd

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