RE: Fuel Protest In London
Wednesday 2nd July 2008
Hauliers have descended on London to protest about spiralling fuel prices. Truckers parked their lorries on the A40, which has been partly closed, while another group of drivers has gathered on foot in Westminster.
Fuel Protest In London
Truckers head to capital to ask Government to cut fuel tax
Motorists in London were being warned to expect disruption after previous protests caused traffic chaos. While lorries parked up on the A40 others drove into the capital escorted by police motorbikes.
The protest is designed to coincide with a debate in Parliament on the unpopular decision to increase vehicle excise duty planned by Chancellor Alastair Darling. The lorry drivers are calling for a 25p-in-the-pound rebate on diesel, saying that high fuel costs are putting them out of business.
The Road Haulage Association, which is helping to organise the rally, says that it is a ‘last ditch attempt’ at making their voice heard. Truckers gathered at Medway Services in Kent this morning before heading towards the capital on the M2. The convoy was said to include lorries from as far a field as Cornwall and North Yorkshire.
National chairman of the RHA Andy Boyle said: ‘If ever there was positive proof that ours is an industry in crisis then this surely must be it. The harsh reality is that the price of fuel is now forcing many hauliers out of business. For many, today will represent a last-ditch attempt at making their voice heard.’
Discussion
Stu_00 said:
Stupid question - What do you mean by bunkered fuel?
Sorry Stu.DAVEVO9 said:
A lot of the bigger hauliers use bunkered fuel and are paying around a £1 Ltr
This is why you don't see them kicking off as much as the small user
This is why you don't see them kicking off as much as the small user
I mean they get it in bulk, eg: I work for a supermarket chain as a HGV 1 driver through an agency and the depot has it's own tank and pumps as do a lot of haulage companies, I think they were paying around 98p a Ltr a few months back.
Dave.
Something I have never been able to understand is that farmers can buy red diesel to allow them to do their work.
The haulage industry is also a job of work so why do they, with the 'bunker' exception mentioned, have to pay what I pay for my daily driver, which is used for work (and comes out as 'expenses'in the company tax return.)
Why can't the truckers buy like farmers ? Road fuel tax is just a general tax 'take' - there is no relation to using/mending roads.
The haulage industry is also a job of work so why do they, with the 'bunker' exception mentioned, have to pay what I pay for my daily driver, which is used for work (and comes out as 'expenses'in the company tax return.)
Why can't the truckers buy like farmers ? Road fuel tax is just a general tax 'take' - there is no relation to using/mending roads.
I, the Right Honourable Gordon Brown MP, say this to you, my haulier subjects.
1. What I do and say is the law, no matter how much you may protest and complain I know better than you and so you WILL be happy.
2. If you cannot afford to run a haulage company in this, the greatest of modern democracies, move to one of the European nations and find work there. After all, do you hear any of my ever-growing band of migrant comrades complaining about life here?
3. The ever rising price of fuel and the duty this government imposes on it is completely beyond my control. Protest all you like (and I know who you all are and where you live, BTW), my hands are tied. Sort of.
4. Don't you realise that your trucks are killing the planet and wrecking my roads?!
5. I don't drive a truck but if I did I wouldn't be complaining. I'd be applying for a job with Shell.
6. If I do freeze prices will you all sign a contract promising you'll vote Labour at the next General Election? Oh go on, things can only get better...
1. What I do and say is the law, no matter how much you may protest and complain I know better than you and so you WILL be happy.
2. If you cannot afford to run a haulage company in this, the greatest of modern democracies, move to one of the European nations and find work there. After all, do you hear any of my ever-growing band of migrant comrades complaining about life here?
3. The ever rising price of fuel and the duty this government imposes on it is completely beyond my control. Protest all you like (and I know who you all are and where you live, BTW), my hands are tied. Sort of.
4. Don't you realise that your trucks are killing the planet and wrecking my roads?!
5. I don't drive a truck but if I did I wouldn't be complaining. I'd be applying for a job with Shell.
6. If I do freeze prices will you all sign a contract promising you'll vote Labour at the next General Election? Oh go on, things can only get better...
SlimJ said:
25p rebate may help the transport companies, but it will not drop the price of goods in the shops IMO. At the end of the day, that 25p rebate will just taken in extra tax from the general public 
YES IT WILL!If the government give ANY sort of rebate to transport companies you can expect everyone else to foot the bill. If the Haulage companies are successful, unless you want further increases in fuel (or in some other tax) I STRONGLY recommend that you get prepared for the same action or start paying for fuel at a 25p increase overnight (or in a stealth tax).
Bineg a lazy f
k and turning a blind eye to this will only hurt yourself (and everyone else) in the long run.Fuel duty must be reduced on fuel in general.
mattikake said:
SlimJ said:
25p rebate may help the transport companies, but it will not drop the price of goods in the shops IMO. At the end of the day, that 25p rebate will just taken in extra tax from the general public
YES IT WILL!If the government give ANY sort of rebate to transport companies you can expect everyone else to foot the bill. If the Haulage companies are successful, unless you want further increases in fuel (or in some other tax) I STRONGLY recommend that you get prepared for the same action or start paying for fuel at a 25p increase overnight (or in a stealth tax).
Bineg a lazy f
k and turning a blind eye to this will only hurt yourself (and everyone else) in the long run.Fuel duty must be reduced on fuel in general.
Edited by DAVEVO9 on Wednesday 2nd July 16:58
Lets be honest its not a real protest is it? They have a police escort into the city?!? If we were in france they would of just lined a load of them up on the M25 and blocked the whole inner M25 up.
Although after writing this post I might not be back on PH for 42 days I think we need a real protest.
Although after writing this post I might not be back on PH for 42 days I think we need a real protest.
^ inflation continued to rise. *
- result of fuel prices on food prices on living costs on the value on money itself...
Lets clear up a few points here.
Red Derv as used by farmers ect is rebated diesel dyed red.
It is for off road use and forestry use only and must not be used on public road.It is possible to use red derv on the road but up to a maximun of about 20 miles a week.
It is also used in some heating systems in factories as well,
Because it is rebated the truckers cannot use it.
Haulage companies use bunker fuels, fuel cards and fuel delivered to their own tanks.
Bunker fuels are bought off the fuel cards at places like Junction 38 diesel services Tebay, Lymm truckstop and Truckhaven on lancashire.
Fuel cards are generally cheaper than bought in fuel as they buy millions of litres a week.
Companies who buy in there own fuel generally pay per artic load which currently is running around 108-50 pence per litre plus vat
Hope this puts some prospective to the topic
Red Derv as used by farmers ect is rebated diesel dyed red.
It is for off road use and forestry use only and must not be used on public road.It is possible to use red derv on the road but up to a maximun of about 20 miles a week.
It is also used in some heating systems in factories as well,
Because it is rebated the truckers cannot use it.
Haulage companies use bunker fuels, fuel cards and fuel delivered to their own tanks.
Bunker fuels are bought off the fuel cards at places like Junction 38 diesel services Tebay, Lymm truckstop and Truckhaven on lancashire.
Fuel cards are generally cheaper than bought in fuel as they buy millions of litres a week.
Companies who buy in there own fuel generally pay per artic load which currently is running around 108-50 pence per litre plus vat
Hope this puts some prospective to the topic
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