FTA hits out at cuts in transport spending
Commercial vehicle operators could be set to suffer as the impact of the recession on public spending in the UK threatens to limit investment in the country's road and transport networks, it has been claimed.
According to the Freight Transport Association (FTA), the haulage sector looks likely to become "the whipping boy" as the government tries to account for a huge shortfall in public investment.
A leaked industry memo earlier this week suggested that the Department for Transport is set to see its spending plans slashed by £28.9 billion in a bid to plug the gap.
FTA spokesperson Jo Tanner said news of the cuts will "send a shiver down the spine" of the UK haulage industry, which "forms the backbone of business" in the UK.
"Although the UK's transport companies lead the way in terms of investing in greener and newer technology, they are not being met halfway by public investment in our roads and railways," she stated.
Ms Tanner's comments come after the Road Haulage Association last month criticised the government's plans to increase fuel duty in September, which it claimed will damage commercial vehicle companies and therefore hinder any economic recovery.