UK transport operators raise concerns about financial impact of clean air policies

Over 85% of road transport professionals at the Microlise Transport conference believe measures to improve air quality will have a negative financial impact on their businesses. The findings come from a poll of 1,200 delegates at the road transport event in Coventry, UK. In addition, 92% think the needs of the transport industry are either not being considered, or only partially, in relation to the introduction of clean-air and low-emission zones. Three-quarters of respondents believe the government is
May 22, 2018 Read time: 2 mins

Over 85% of road transport professionals at the Microlise Transport conference believe measures to improve air quality will have a negative financial impact on their businesses. The findings come from a poll of 1,200 delegates at the road transport event in Coventry, UK.

In addition, 92% think the needs of the transport industry are either not being considered, or only partially, in relation to the introduction of clean-air and low-emission zones.

Three-quarters of respondents believe the government is unfairly legislating against the transport industry, while 44% think running a transport operation is harder now than it was 12 months ago.

On the run-up to the end of Q3 2017, the road transport industry moved more than 150bn tonnes of goods – a 3% increase on the preceding 12 months. For the same period, vehicles travelled 1% fewer miles than a year earlier.

Half of the delegates said the biggest opportunity for the industry lay in the use of technology.

Two-thirds of participants said they already have alternative fuel vehicles in their fleet and 78% intend to trial alternatively-fuelled vehicles as they come to market. However, 65% of respondents believe diesel will still power more than half of their fleets by 2025.

Speaking on the topic of clean air zones, Richard Burnett, Road Haulage Association chief executive, says: “I have spent 30-plus years in this industry and have never known it to be surrounded by so many issues as it is today. But clean air isn't just about trucks - it affects everyone.”

Scott Gibbons from the National Counter-Terrorism Policing headquarters highlighted the importance of preventing heavy goods vehicles-related terrorism.

Two-thirds of respondents said they had not made any changes directly as a result of recent attacks while the remainder has no specific processes or policies relating to the issue.

Related Content

  • December 10, 2015
    New York City joins San Francisco and Oakland in greenhouse gas reduction
    In the light of the COP21 Paris Climate Conference, New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio has announced a major initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the city’s large fleet of light duty and heavy duty vehicles. To meet its goals, the initiative relies heavily on new technology diesel engines and bio-based diesel fuels. Following in the footsteps of San Francisco and Oakland, California, New York City is seeking to require the use of renewable diesel fuel. Earlier this year, San Francisco
    Read More
  • March 17, 2016
    Moscow planning improvements to city’s ITS system
    Buoyed by the success of its recent ITS introductions, the authorities in Moscow are planning additions to the system as Eugene Gerden discovered. The government of Russia’s capital, Moscow, plans further improvement to the city’s transport systems, partly through the introduction of new ITS technologies and the modernisation of existing systems. At the beginning of 2015 the Moscow government completed the introduction of a new ITS infrastructure in the city, which, according to Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin
    Read More
  • June 19, 2019
    London EV demand ‘rising’ since ULEZ intro, says Carwow
    Demand for electric vehicles (EVs) has increased 123% in London since the introduction of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), says Carwow. Using data from its website, the car-buying platform found that searches for EVs also increased 56% in the rest of the UK Enquiries for alternative fuel vehicles (AFV) increased 77% in the UK capital and 44% in the rest of the country. Carwow says there has been a 56% year on year increase in searches for hybrid vehicles since May 2018, with a further 92% incre
    Read More
  • October 31, 2023
    Emovis’ 5-step guide to educating drivers on road usage charging
    If people don’t understand the benefits of road usage charging, then it is unlikely to have public support. Scott Jacobs of Emovis outlines ways in which key messages – particularly on fairness - can be put across
    Read More

Highlighted Content