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This week Manchester announced plans for a congestion charge, but the haulage industry remains in the dark about whether CVs will have to pay. The proposals were unveiled amid much fanfare, with government funding to the tune of £3bn available to the city to improve transport links before the peak-time congestion charge is introduced in 2013.

However the information released makes no mention of CVs Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (GMPTE), which is making the proposals, was also unable to provide any details. Local hauliers tell CM they have yet to hear whether HGVs will be included in the charging scheme, which will include two rings around the city with different charging zones.

Mike Lyons, group finance director at AK Worthington, says it appears the GMPTE has yet to decide whether to include HGVs in the scheme. "We're also concerned about being charged several times for the same truck because we multidrop," he adds. AK Worthington has joined a group of businesses called GM Momentum Group formed to oppose the plan.

Austin Wilkinson and Sons' managing director James Wilkinson has also tried to find out whether trucks will be expected to pay the charge. "There seems to be no firm idea yet, but any charges we have to pay will mean we'll  have to put our rates up and in the end the consumer will pay," he says. Kerry Logistics traffic manager Steve Barratt adds that not only would a congestion charge affect trucks coming into the firm's Trafford Park site, but also employees trying to get into work.

And it's not just hauliers that are uncertain about the scope of the scheme. Freight Transport Association head of road network management policy Malcolm Bingham says he is also unsure as to whether CVs will have to pay. "Initially the organisers said all vehicles will have to pay, but more recently they've said they haven't considered goods vehicles and they will be discussed during the consultation." The 12-week consultation is currently under way.