The Road Haulage Association (RHA) is calling for the UK government to reform its clean air zone (CAZ) policy as matter of urgency.

Responding to the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Road Freight & Logistics inquiry into Clean Air Zones, the RHA condemned the current approach as expensive, inflexible and ineffective.

RHA Chief Executive, Richard Burnett criticised the adverse impact the current policy has on the resale values of non-Euro 6 trucks. “We all want clean air, but the right policies are needed to achieve it without damaging business,” he said. “We have consistently pointed out the flaws with the current approach, but this seems to have fallen on deaf ears within government.”

“With as much as £1.2bn wiped off the value of the Euro 5 fleet, CAZ is a grievous body-blow for hauliers. If this wasn’t bad enough, we see the policy as being counterproductive as more vans transport the freight otherwise carried by non-compliant lorries. This will lead to more congestion and a corresponding rise in emissions.”

The RHA says it has an alternative solution where all this pain can be avoided. As an immediate first step, it is calling for the government to amend the policy framework by introducing what it calls ‘intelligent phasing’ to negate the ‘stranded asset’ effect.

As at present, heavy duty vehicles - HGVs and buses - account for just 5% of total NOx emissions, the RHA is urging the government to redesign the policy framework with a more proportionate response that targets the most-polluting vehicles across all types.

Photo: Richard Burnett