Haulage industry representatives are upset with the rise
A government fuel duty rise will put another 1p on the cost of a litre of petrol and diesel from Friday.
The AA has criticised the move and hauliers’ body, the Freight Transport Association (FTA) has called the move a “smash-and-grab approach”.
The FTA said above-inflation tax hikes since 2009 meant the freight industry faced “a disproportionate burden in narrowing the public sector deficit”.
It said the rise would add £125m more a year to transport industry bills.
“With another rise due in January and above-inflation rises set for the next three years, many businesses hit hard by the recent recession will feel like they are on borrowed time,” FTA chief economist Simon Chapman said.
“The price of oil is the highest it’s been for three months and is set to rise further as we come into the autumn peak period of oil demand.
“With economic recovery still so fragile, now is not the time to compound the problem with artificial price hikes.”
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