The RHA is right in stating that its poll of members showed no enthusiasm for a nationwide campaign of demonstrations against the high level of fuel duty. It sent questionnaires to by e-mail and fax to 8,000 members. Only about 5% replied. That suggest that only about 400 companies thought it even worth giving a view, the other 7,600 said nothing. But the majority of those 400 did reply supported action but not all were prepared to commit vehicles.
Given this lukewarm support, it is not surprising that the RHA has decided against a campaign of protests but instead agreed to support any group of members who wish to exercise public protest in a locality of their choosing.
But protesters need to be careful. It is one thing to go to shopping centres and high streets across the country to explain the issues.
But it is another to attempt o disrupt traffic by going slow or trying to block town roads with a large number of heavy vehicles. That would only antagonise people.
Transaction 2007 held meetings last week about taking action. The outcome is not yet known but it would not be surprising if some protests take place.
Incidentally this issue highlights once more the problem in merging the FTA and the RHA, as has been suggested. The FTA is strongly against protest action. The RHA has been more sympathetic, and supported some protests during the last fuel dispute. If every there was a merger, a number of RHA members would break away.