EU hauliers to pay UK road charges
In nine simple steps, reduce your fleet costs in key areas, including:
Accident management 
Daily rental
Policy Whole life costs Funding
Maintenance Fuel Driver training
Posted by Joanna Simons
Haulage companies from the European Union (EU) may soon have to pay a UK road charge.
To put an end to the system whereby British companies pay to use EU roads but foreign businesses can drive in the UK for free, the government has proposed a scheme to impose a time-based charge of around £10 a day for lorries of 12 tonnes or over.
The precise level of charge will be subject to the exchange rate and inflation, but it is hoped that the practice will be in place by 2015.
It is anticipated that the charge will create a fairer deal for UK hauliers, while ensuring that EU-registered vehicles are not discriminated against.
To protect hauliers from an increase in costs, the government plans to compensate them for the charge.
Roads minister Mike Penning commented: "We want to ensure that UK hauliers get a fairer deal and help maintain the competitiveness of our logistics industry."
However, the Freight Transport Association has warned that safeguards must be put in place to ensure UK companies are not disadvantaged further by the policy.
