HGV levy nets £17m in first four months15 August 2014

The government has announced that the HGV road user levy has netted more than £17 million from foreign truck drivers in the first four months of operation – way ahead of the target of £20 million for year one.

Introduced in April this year, the levy charges all hauliers driving trucks of 12 tonnes or more for using UK roads – UK hauliers pay via the vehicle excise duty. Foreign hauliers pay between £1.70 and £10 per day, or £85 to £1,000 per year.

More than 618,000 levies have been purchased for 112,000 vehicles from 76 countries since it came into effect.

The Department for Transport says more than 95% of HGV operators are complying. Roadside checks have resulted in DVSA enforcements and 850 fixed penalty notices totalling £250,000.

Transport minister Robert Goodwill says the results prove the levy is working and British hauliers are no longer operating at a disadvantage: "We anticipated the levy would generate around £20m a year – to take £17m in just four months is impressive and shows that compliance has remained high since introduction.

"Before the levy was introduced we had a ridiculous situation where foreign HGV drivers could fill up their tanks on the continent, pick up business in the UK and return to the mainland without even buying fuel here – without giving a penny to help maintain our roads... I'm glad to see this levy has addressed that imbalance."

The Freight Transport Association's James Hookham adds: "UK road freight operators have consistently argued that foreign-registered HGVs operating in the UK should contribute to their use of our roads. The HGV Levy ensures this, and in so doing helps those domestic UK hauliers who are in direct competition with foreign carriers for loads."

Author
Laura Cork

Related Companies
Freight Transport Association Ltd

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