Lorry levy a success after only four months

The HGV road user levy has made more than £17 million in the four months since it came into operation, says the UK Department for Transport. More than 618,000 levies have been purchased for over 112,000 vehicles from 76 different countries since the HGV road user levy was introduced in April 2014 – which has produced enough money to patch more than 320,000 potholes on the UK’s roads. Recent evidence shows over 95% of heavy goods vehicle operators are paying the new levy in Great Britain. Roadside chec
August 15, 2014 Read time: 2 mins

The HGV road user levy has made more than £17 million in the four months since it came into operation, says the UK 1837 Department for Transport.

More than 618,000 levies have been purchased for over 112,000 vehicles from 76 different countries since the HGV road user levy was introduced in April 2014 – which has produced enough money to patch more than 320,000 potholes on the UK’s roads.

Recent evidence shows over 95% of heavy goods vehicle operators are paying the new levy in Great Britain. Roadside checks have seen DVSA enforcement officers issue over 850 fixed penalty notices to drivers who have not paid – resulting in fines worth more than £250,000.

Transport minister Robert Goodwill said: “I welcome these figures which show that the levy brought in by this government is really working. We anticipated the levy would generate around £20 million a year – to take £17 million 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.

Meanwhile British hauliers were effectively operating at a disadvantage. I’m glad to see this levy has addressed that imbalance.”

James Hookham, from the Freight Transport Association, said: “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.”

All hauliers driving trucks of 12 tonnes or more must pay the levy before using UK roads, but UK hauliers do so when buying their vehicle excise duty to keep administration costs to a minimum. Discounts are available for longer periods, with charges varying between £1.70 and £10 per day or £85 to £1,000 per year.

The levy is part of the coalition’s promise of a fairer deal for UK hauliers, which includes cutting the duty paid on standard diesel to less than it was in October 2010 and freezing HGV vehicle excise duty during this Parliament.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • New clean diesel technology improving air quality and fuel efficiency, research finds
    July 29, 2016
    The introduction of more advanced diesel truck engines, innovative emissions control systems, and cleaner diesel fuel over the past decade have successfully resulted in major improvements in air quality and fuel efficiency, according to new research compiled by The Martec Group, a global technical marketing research firm, for the Diesel Technology Forum. The four million cleaner heavy-duty diesels introduced from 2007 through 2015 have saved US consumers: 29 million tonnes of C02; 7.5 million tonnes o
    Read More
  • New driver study reveals Britain’s ten worst driving habits
    September 23, 2016
    According to a study by business driving expert, the Fuelcard Company, which questioned 1,000 drivers across the UK more than half of British drivers (52 per cent) have picked up some potentially dangerous driving habits. These include going too fast or too slow, texting while driving, using the phone or hands-free, eating or smoking at the wheel, driving too close to other vehicles, throwing rubbish out of the window, hogging the middle lane and checking phone notifications. Interestingly, more than
    Read More
  • SMMT sets up connected and autonomous vehicles forum
    June 19, 2015
    New research commissioned by the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT) has found the development of connected and autonomous vehicles will help generate 320,000 jobs in the UK, delivering huge benefits to society and the economy. In the first comprehensive analysis of the UK opportunities provided by this new technology, KPMG has found these new vehicles could deliver a US$81 billion boost to the UK economy and reduce serious road traffic accidents by more than 25,000 a year by 2030. To expl
    Read More
  • ‘Wrong font’ on signs could overturn speeding fines
    March 11, 2013
    Thousands of UK motorists caught speeding on two stretches of the M62 in Warwickshire could have their convictions overturned because the wrong font was used on the speed limit signs. The Crown Prosecution Service said the signs showed miles per hour (mph) numbers taller and narrower than they should have been, failing to comply with traffic regulations. The regulations governing variable speed limit signs are set out in a government document called Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2002. If
    Read More

Highlighted Content