Shoppers fuel is cheaper than hauliers
August 22, 2011
The UK’s Road Haulage Association (RHA) has hit out at the unfairness of private shoppers receiving substantial discounts on fuel while freight and other truck operators are forced to pay a premium price.
The RHA says it is incensed that the recent 12% drop in global oil prices is being transferred to supermarket customers in the form of a 2p per litre reduction that haulage operators cannot take advantage of.
The Sainsbury chain recently joined the number of supermarkets offering customers reductions of up to 12p per litre.
RHA Chief Executive Geoff Dunning said: “Hauliers are shoppers too – the difference is that the average HGV operator cannot take his truck onto the forecourt of a supermarket filling station; it’s not allowed.
“If HGV operators were able to take advantage of this offer, filling up a 400 litre tank would cost £48 less.
“These price cuts can only ever be short-term. What is desperately needed and would help everyone would be a reduction in the actual rate of fuel duty.”
He added: “The exchange rate should not be used as an excuse for high pump prices when the price of oil has dropped by 12% in the last month.
“It is imperative that we see a 5ppl cut in the price of fuel. When the price rises we have no choice but to bite the bullet and pay up. Equally, when the price comes down, we expect to see that reflected at the pump too”.
