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The Liberal Democrats have waded into the debate about resurrecting plans for a Lorry Road User Charge, claiming its version would force operators to reduce vehicle emissions, as well as raise money for rail projects. However, the proposals have puzzled the Road Haulage Association (RHA), which says they have not been thought through clearly, and they fail to recognise the environmental credentials of the haulage industry.

The party unveiled  its road freight policies in its document: Fast Track Britain: Building a Transport System for the 21st Century. In it, the party says it would implement a LRUC, which would apply to British and foreign registered trucks. It would also increase the graduation of road tax on lorries, which it claims would encourage operators to use smaller and more fuel efficient vehicles.

Lib Dem shadow transport secretary Norman Baker says its LRUC plans are different from those binned by the Government. He says foreign hauliers would register their mileage at British ports as they enter the country, and then would have to pay up when they left. However, UK-based operators would only pay up during annual tests.

Baker says: "So there's a period of grace and gives a cash flow advantage to British hauliers. Money raised would go towards rail projects, but that will help those on the roads as well." He adds that fuel duty could also be cut by 10% and VED abolished. But RHA policy director  Jack Semple says the party does not realise that road transport will remain the dominant form of transport for the foreseeable future, and that trucks are becoming more and more environmentally clean.

Semple also points out the document suggests its plan for tolling all road users would be revenue neutral for motorists, but doesn't mention the road freight sector. And he questions the validity of their payment regime: "I suspect the Commission would consider it discriminatory and, therefore, against European Union law."