Department for Transport figures show a 52% fall between 2013 and 2018 as haulage firms upgraded to cleaner Euro VI lorries.

The Road Haulage Association (RHA) says that the trend is set to continue and projects that NOx emissions from HGVs will have reduced by more than 80% by the end of 2025.

But the Association in its NOx Emission Assessment warns that many operators face an uncertain future as local authorities press on with plans which will see them charged up to £100 per day to enter Clean Air Zones.

RHA Chief Executive, Richard Burnett says that efforts to improve air quality will fall short until the government proportionately targets the source of emissions. He said, “The government is signing off poorly conceived measures which punish hauliers for local authority failures to keep emissions in check.”

According to National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory data, lorries and buses account for a small, declining proportion of NOx emissions. Figures from 2015 show that the sectors were responsible for only 7.6% of NOx, whilst the share from other key sources such as passenger cars and combustion in industry were much higher. 

Photo: Richard Burnett