RHA: Customer crisis trumps fuel tax as the number one concern for Europe’s hauliers
The number one concern for hauliers across Europe is the decline of their customer base, industry representatives have made clear.
At an International Road Transport Union conference in Geneva, delegates stressed repeatedly that ensuring the industry has customers has to be the first priority.
Roger King, RHA Chief Executive and vice-president of the IRU’s goods transport council, who chaired the session on the economy yesterday, said: “At this moment, fuel taxes and infrastructure problems are dwarfed by the very deep concern over our customer base. Without them, hauliers have no business; and Europe has no economy worth the name
“The clear message from IRU members around Europe is that we need measures to stabilise the position of our customers, so that they can continue to trade.
“After that has been achieved, we need measures to get growth back on track; and then we can concentrate on important transport issues such, especially taxes and the need for infrastructure investment,” King said.
The IRU also called for the completion of the Doha trade talks to boost international trade.
Notes to Editors
The RHA has attacked the second fuel duty rise in five months, applied on April 1st in the UK. This is the only country to be adding to the tax burden of its essential transport industry in the EU. Britain’s diesel duty rate was already the highest in the EU.
Road Haulage Association – more than you think
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