Coalition committed to investigating Lorry Road User Charging

Freight on Rail supports the principle of a lorry road user charging system if it ensures fairer arrangements for the UK haulage industry, reduces freight's environmental footprint, improves working standards, road safety and helps support modal shift, where appropriate.

Any lorry road user charging system should meet the following criteria:-

• address the inequalities between UK and non-UK hauliers in international and domestic traffic (cabotage)
  
• improve standards and enforcement in road haulage
  
• Remove unfair competition
  
• Provide incentives and funding for training
  
• improve conditions for drivers
  
• improve efficiency of road freight to minimise external costs such as local air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, noise and congestion

The evidence from the schemes operated in Germany and Switzerland demonstrates that

• efficiency of the HGV sector has improved with less empty running which in turn reduces greenhouse gas emissions per tonne of freight carried
• Funding has been provided which has supported improvements in working conditions
  
• Increased the use of long distance rail freight which provides a low carbon energy-efficient safe alternative.
  
• Encourage modal shift where appropriate