The Conservative manifesto promises that the party would, if it won the election, consult on the introduction of a "fair fuel stabiliser".

According to the Tories, this proposal would cut fuel duty when oil prices rise and vice versa. It says it would ensure businesses are less exposed to volatile oil markets, and create a more stable environment for low-carbon investment.

Other policies not in its manifesto

The Conservative Party says it wants to ensure that overseas trucks contribute towards the cost of the maintenance of UK roads through the introduction a lorry road user charge.

Such a scheme would be structured, according to the Tories, so it is “broadly neutral for domestic haulage companies”.

Further policy proposals include:

• The promise of a ‘crackdown’ on safety standards for trucks
• Raising the HGV speed limit on single carriage A-roads from 40mph to 50mph
• An equally un-detailed “more effective action” to tackle truck crime
• The promise of a “proportionate and pragmatic approach” when it comes to the implementing EU legislation which affects the haulage industry

Labour has promised in its manifesto that if it won the general election it would rule out the introduction of national road pricing in the next Parliament .

The manifesto also says that tackling road congestion is a key Labour priority, and it would extend hard-shoulder running on motorways, alongside targeted motorway widening, including on the M25.

Furthermore, the manifesto makes a commitment to "put Britain at the forefront of electric and low-carbon vehicle manufacturing". Labour says it would promote a "rapid" take-up of electric vehicles with a network of 100,000 electric-vehicle charging points established during the duration of the next Parliament.

Other policies not in its manifesto

Labour says it wants to put local authorities at the ”forefront of tackling congestion”. It would give councils powers to take action to reduce congestion locally, with funding support from government for innovative local schemes.

It adds that in the 2010 Budget it included additional funding of £250m for transport, £100m of which is to fund repairs to local roads as the party “recognises that the bad weather we suffered this winter has had a highly detrimental effect”.

The party also announced an additional £285m of funding for the Managed Motorways programme and other major road projects, part-funded by reductions in the Department for Transport's marketing and communications budgets and other low-value spend.

Labour is staging the fuel duty increase for 2010, beginning with the 1p/litre rise which went through on 1 April. It will be followed by a 1p/litre rise on 1 October, then a 0.76p/litre increase on 1 January 2011.

The party says it wants to cut the average carbon dioxide emissions from new cars across the EU to 95g/km by 2020 but will only say it will continue to press the EU to require new vans to be more efficient as well as increasing the commercial viability of all electric vehicles.

The Liberal Democrat manifesto pledges that if the party won the election it would work for the introduction of a system of road pricing in a second Parliament.

The manifesto says that such a system would be revenue-neutral for all motorists, with revenue raised from cars used to abolish Vehicle Excise Duty and reduce fuel duty.

It singles out the revenue from trucks, saying some of it would be used to fund further extensions of high-speed rail.

Additionally, a Lib Dem government would introduce a rural fuel discount scheme that it claims would allow a reduced rate of fuel duty to be paid in remote rural areas.

Other policies not in its manifesto

The Liberal Democrats propose a road pricing regime on motorways and dual carriageways which the party promises would “cut fuel duty significantly”, reducing it to the EU minimum for lorries.

The party says this policy would ensure foreign lorries pay tax for using British roads with the money raised to be used for investment in UK infrastructure.

The Lib Dems also want to limit the amount of fuel that individual hauliers may transport into the UK to just 100 litres per vehicle.

The United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) currently has no MPs but does have 13 MEPs and two seats in the House of Lords (both through the defection of Conservative MPs). Its transport spokesman is John Bufton MEP.

The party says that by leaving the EU it would save £6.4bn per year in contributions to EU-funded transport projects. It anticipates that some £3bn of this can be invested in British transport, balanced between the various modes for passenger and freight.

Main transport priorities:

• UKIP says it opposes “green taxes”, preferring what it describes as “choice and market solutions”.
• UKIP is not in favour of persecuting the motorist, and wants a well organised and well maintained road network.

Transport policies, in its manifesto, related to road freight:

• UKIP would introduce a 'Britdisc' (vignette) on foreign lorries that it says are not paying anything for British roads, as well as promising a less detailed “crackdown on [overladen] killer lorries”.
• The party says it would give back a “windfall return” on fuel duty above an unspecified set price for oil. It adds that the windfall would be returned to the motorist over an undetermined time through fuel tax cuts.
• UKIP insists it would oppose raising the gross laden weight for lorries to 60 tonnes as well as opposing longer, heavier vehicles of an “unwieldy” 25 metres. UKIP wants to encourage a long-term programme of shifting freight to rail for longer distances.
• UKIP wants the UK to exit from Europe and as a result it would repeal EU directives including the Working Time Directive, the Daylight Running Directive and the Control of Noise and Vibration Regulations.
• If it gained power UKIP would remove the existing £15 surcharge on motorists for minor offences (such as not wearing seatbelts) to fund what it describes as compensation for victims of crime.
• UKIP would support the adoption of electric vehicles by making improvements to battery-charging infrastructure. It offers no further details on what this would involve.
• The party would begin a consultation process on raising the motorway speed limit to 80mph.
• UKIP wishes to introduce legislation to create a crime of “vehicular manslaughter”. It says the law would be necessary for those whose “excessively dangerous driving makes death on the road a near certainty”.
• The party opposes metric measurements of British roads and speed limits.
• UKIP would introduce a national strategy for ports, a process which the Transport Select Committee is currently hearing evidence on, as well as a comprehensive freight distribution plan. The party says it would assist ports to pay for new road and rail infrastructure through money saved by leaving the EU.

Plaid Cymru's manifesto says it would call for a review of the Welsh National Assembly's powers over freight transport and would look for a phased transfer of heavy freight from road to rail.

The party is also committed to upgrading major road routes in Wales, especially north-south links.

The Scottish National Party (SNP) says in its manifesto that it would introduce a fair fuel regulator.

The party says that when oil prices increase, all motorists should not be doubly punished with soaring taxes and prices at the pumps.

Equally, the SNP's manifesto outlines a commitment that the UK should adopt a similar tax derogation on fuel sold in remote communities, as already exists elsewhere in the EU.

Finally, the SNP is the only party to make a specific commitment to the future of mail delivery, saying it would work to protect postal services across Scotland by opposing any changes to Royal Mail that would weaken its universal delivery obligation.

The Freight Transport Association, in its manifesto, calls for five key commitments from the next government:

• Amend the Highway Code – learner drivers should learn how to behave around large vehicles, which according to the FTA would reduce accidents.
• Respect commercial vehicles – the FTA believes that politicians must, in the next government, revise the tax regime to reflect the contribution to the economy commercial vehicles make.
• Tackle truck crime – the FTA would like to see police forces improve communication over truck crime.

Decision 2010: The Logistics Manifesto also targets regional governments and assemblies Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland with specific agendas:

• In Wales the FTA calls for a reduction in the Severn crossing tolls as well as improved access for rail freight for container shipments.
• The FTA urges prospective MPs in Holyrood and Westminster to improve infrastructure connections between Scotland and the rest of the UK as well as for politicians to work closely with the industry to reduce carbon emissions.
• In Northern Ireland the FTA calls for Stormont to recognise the need for joined-up infrastructure investment with the UK; and recognise the potentially negative environmental consequences of future tax rises

All three regions are also urged to address the lack of compliance by some operators in the Republic of Ireland.

The Road Haulage Association’s manifesto for the next government is an eight-point plan designed to bring road haulage far higher up the government’s agenda.

• Consumer choice – the next government should give careful consideration to the complexity of the supply chain, the RHA says, before it “imposes costly and intrusive regulatory burdens on road transport companies”.
• Roads and congestion – the RHA argues that a truck stuck in congestion is not an efficient one; as such trucks should be able to use priority lanes for buses.
• Vehicle utilisation and rfficiency – local planning authorities should review restrictions placed on the movement of goods vehicles by size, weight or time, the RHA says.
• Parking and security – the RHA wants the next government to ensure that sufficient lorry parking facilities are provided.
• Cash flow – steps should be taken to reduce the cash flow burden on companies, the RHA says.
• Standards – the RHA wants the government's financial contribution to the Traffic Commissioners and VOSA to be maintained to keep those who cheat the system out of the industry.