A new report from the Road Haulage Association (RHA) reveals that nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions from HGVs in Great Britain have fallen by at least 72% since 2013.

The Association in its NOx Emission Assessment 2022 says that £2.2bn haulage industry investment in Euro VI trucks since 2014 has largely driven the improvement. NOx emissions from lorries are set to fall by 82% by 2025 without restrictive measures on trucks, according to RHA modelling.

Despite the huge progress the industry has made to reduce its emissions, Clean Air Zone policies (CAZ) still disproportionately target HGVs. Trucks are responsible for less than 8% of roadside NOx yet in some cases are hit with £100 daily charges to enter a CAZ where more effective measures could be brought in to reduce emissions.

The RHA has urged the UK government to amend its CAZ framework to ensure that no charges are levied on lorries less than 12 years old, or coaches less than 16 years old.

Richard Smith, RHA Managing Director said, “There are still misconceptions about HGVs and our industry’s commitment to adopting cleaner air technologies. We’ve all got a long way to go but these figures show that we’re making huge strides in reducing harmful emissions from our fleets. We urge policymakers to recognise this progress and target emissions reduction in fairer and more effective ways.”

Photo: RHA Managing Director, Richard Smith.