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The introduction of London's Low Emission Zone descended into farce this week after Transport for London appeared to be attempting to change the rules at the last minute. As MT went to press SMMT members and TfL were due to meet for crunch talks on an issue described by one insider as "deeply unsatisfactory". The confusion stems largely from the possible compliance of a huge number of Euro 1 and Euro 2-engined vehicles with the Euro 3 particulate limit set by TfL for the start of the scheme next  year.

Volvo and Scania have joined Daf in indicating that a large proportion of their Euro 1 and 2 trucks will comply. But in a letter to the SMMT and the truck manufacturers TfL now appears to be suggesting that older vehicles will have to pass a smoke test that is some four times stricter than the test for new Euro 4 vehicles in order to gain the Low Emission Certificate (LEC) required for entry into the LEZ. This contradicts its own Schedule Order which set up the zone. The truck manufacturers say the issue needs urgent clarification so they can advise operators on what action to take.

One industry insider adds: "If they had set all the rules out two years ago then people could have been organised by now, it's getting close to being the 13th hour, not the 11th." With the LEZ starting in little over six months operators who may be affected need to decide urgently what to do, particularly as manufacturers' lead times could mean that a truck ordered now will not be delivered  before February. But even if manufacturers can identify which of their vehicles comply with the limits, transport firms are still at the mercy of potentially long waits to obtain their LECs from VOSA.

The added workload of LEC testing for VOSA may mean that hauliers will not know until the last minute whether their truck will be allowed into the zone without a charge. When MT contacted Yeading Goods Vehicle Test Station to enquire about booking an LEC test we were referred to TfL. In turn they told us that we needed to contact VOSA and that the test would only be available from August.