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The pound's weakness against the euro has given a small ray of hope to UK-based international hauliers and those competing with foreign hauliers undertaking cabotage, because it makes UK businesses more competitive.

Despite being stung by soaring fuel prices and a global economic downturn, UK haulage businesses are a more attractive proposition to foreign exporters than they were 12 months ago, according to Freight  Transport Association chief economist Simon Chapman.

The strong euro has led to cheaper UK haulage services, particularly when compared with other Western European countries.

Chapman says: "Some of the accession states are obviously still running their own currencies. [But] I suspect those currencies are more closely aligned to the euro than the dollar, where ours is most aligned.

"Certainly on just a competitive basis, with UK hauliers trying to compete with cabotage hauliers, it's good news. Conceivably, it's also good news for UK international hauliers because sterling is relatively weak against the euro. And UK hauliers are better able to capture those exports and make headway in the international marketplace."

However, Chapman remains unconvinced that the overall competitive position will change much, because the gulf between haulage costs in the UK and in Eastern Europe is so great.

"It's certainly a more positive  picture than 12 months ago," he concludes. "But we have an awful lot of ground to make up."