The Road Haulage Association (RHA) has urged hauliers to raise their rates in the face of the third increase in fuel duty in nine months - and received backing from the industry as a result. Furthermore, businesses that object to haulage firms putting up their rates as a result of the rise - which comes into effect on September 1 - should instead "focus their attention on treasury ministers who are fuelling cost inflation."
RHA policy director Jack Semple says: "The haulage industry knows the difficulties facing many of its customers, but hauliers must have haulage rates that are sustainable". Robert Wilcox, managing director at Massey Wilcox Transport, argues that the current swathe of transport business faliures will reduce the supply of services to customers, and the lack of supply to demand will cause rates to rise regardless of any fuel duty increases. 
Steve Bowles, director at Berkshire-based Roy Bowles Transport, concurs with the RHA. He says: "Every time fuel goes up, we have to increase our surcharge to all our most-valued clients. I am sure this will push more hauliers closer to the scrap heap." Ian Jarman, environmental and legislation manager at Owens Road Services, argues: "While the industry is not being treated as an essential user, and getting a rebated fuel duty it rightly deserves, the cost will always be passed on and filtered down to the end user."
Finally, Willie Oliver, managing director at Coleraine, Northern Ireland, firm Oliver Transport Services, adds: "Fuel is this industry's single largest cost, and we must recover that cost from our customers."