RHA CHIEF executive, Richard Burnett has written to the chancellor, Rishi Sunak with a plea to take urgent action desperately needed by thousands of haulage operators.
‘Road hauliers are key workers that are keeping the economy moving in these extraordinary times. They’re keeping the nation fed and shelves stocked and making sure that front-line medical staff are supplied with the PPE they desperately need, 24/7.’
The RHA has proposed measures that provide practical solutions in five key areas.
• A 100%, government backed, invoice financing package (debt support).
• Moving to a weekly furlough of staff to provide a flexible return to businesses.
• A suspension of fuel duty and a rebate for hauliers.
• A business rates holiday for all hauliers’ sites.
• A lorry retention scheme for vehicles not being used (sector specific)
‘If the economy is to recover from this,’ he said ‘it is important that we can switch on the supply chain as individual sectors begin their recovery.
‘No-one knows for sure when that will be, but we must make sure that the industry is up and ready to go at short notice.
‘We recognise that we need to play the fullest role possible in the UK’s recovery and these measures would ensure we can do just that.’
A recent RHA survey found that 46% of the UK’s truck fleet is not operating and 25% of drivers are furloughed.
