A coalition of road transport trade bodies have met with government officials in regards to the implementation of Clean Air Zones (CAZ).

The trade bodies issued a statement saying that ‘unfairly targeting hauliers and that pricing trucks off the road is not the way to reduce emissions’.

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The British Vehicle Rental & Leasing Association (BVRLA), Road Haulage Association (RHA), Freight Transport Association (FTA) and National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA), voiced concerns that local authorities are rushing through CAZ plans without due consideration of hauliers.

The trade bodies met with Transport Minister Jesse Norman and Environment Minister Therese Coffey to discuss a joint six-point plan for Clean Air Zones.

The plan – named ‘The Way Forward’ – sets out recommendations the trade bodies believe can help improve air quality whilst protecting haulage from ‘punitive charges and bureaucracy’. It calls for consistent CAZ operating standards, smarter use of road space, and a phased approach supporting the transition to cleaner vehicles.

BVRLA chief executive Gerry Keaney said: “The fleet industry can help Government to meet its air quality ambitions, but we need more support for HGV operators who face particular cost and operational challenges in upgrading their fleets.

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“We rely on commercial vehicles accessing towns and cities for deliveries and any Clean Air Zone policy that deters trucks is likely to increase the usage of vans. 99% of our members’ LCV fleet is diesel so any initiative that increases the number of vans on our roads will not tackle pollution levels. Commercial operators need time and incentives to upgrade their fleets.”

RHA chief executive, Richard Burnett said: “We welcome the government’s commitment to improve air quality but local authorities pricing lorries off the road is not the way to go about it. Ministers confirmed in our meeting earlier that local authorities should consider all options and that charging should be a last resort.”

Sue Robinson, director of the NFDA’s commercial vehicle division said: “Progressive action is needed to ensure that operators can improve their vehicle fleets, not just by purchasing new Euro 6 commercials, but also by upgrading to cleaner Euro 5 used trucks to replace old and dirty diesel HGVs”.

Last month, quarterly leasing survey results released by the BVRLA showed a decline in the fleet leasing sector for the first time since it began compiling the survey in 2014.