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The Road Haulage Association (RHA) has criticised some of the suggestions made by Campaign for Better Transport for reducing the carbon footprint of freight movements in the UK.

While welcoming ideas such as providing financial support to smaller hauliers to help with maintenance and training, RHA director of policy Jack Semple questions the  benefits of tackling bottlenecks for freight on the rail and water networks without considering the roads.

"In terms of investing in congestion pressure points, it's illogical to spend money on rail and water without also investing in the bottlenecks on the roads. Far more goods are moved around the country by road and so it would make more difference to the carbon emissions of freight movements to invest in the roads."

He adds: "You cannot underestimate what the industry has already done to improve carbon efficiency. Despite the fact the economy has grown considerably over the last 15 years, carbon emissions have only risen by 10%."

Campaign for Better Transport suggests more should be done to reduce empty running, but Semple counters that about 100,000 trucks in the UK are run on restricted licences and are not allowed to carry anybody else's goods.

In response to Campaign for Better Transport's call for road charging to be introduced for trucks in the longer  term in a weight- and distance-based payment system, Semple says it would take many years for road pricing to be implemented and there are many things the industry is doing and can do to improve its carbon footprint.

"We already have a distance- and congestion-based charge for road users – it's called fuel duty."