Day Of Action On Fuel Prices

[raymont]

I fail to see how a strike or protest to the Government will make any difference at all. The rise in fuel prices is down to the cost of the product not the duty.

It is about the same as complaining to the Governemnt about the weather

Every time the untaxed price goes up the govt make more money. We are charged VAT on the base product and VAT on the fuel tax itself. Tax on tax. So, if the base price increases the govt gets more revenue and we pay more than the base price increase. Tax on fuel must be around 150% paid out of taxed income.

Therefore the govt could cushion the effect of price rises if it wanted to.

 

[Dragon]

Bring back BR and get these juggernauts off the road. The government encouraged us to use the rails and public transports but say nothing about hauling goods.

 

[fredfloggle]

Bring back BR and get these juggernauts off the road. The government encouraged us to use the rails and public transports but say nothing about hauling goods.

but do you want it in your back garden?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/beds/bucks/herts/4883060.stm


I've got a better idea - let's open up all the disused water ways.

 

[RoseTattoo]

In Germany, on one of the river barges I have seen a big sign on one to the effect that the barge carries as much as 45 to 60 trucks.

 

[GRAV888]

Bring back BR and get these juggernauts off the road. The government encouraged us to use the rails and public transports but say nothing about hauling goods.

1 slight problem with that idea.
Tunnels are round and only take atandard size (8'6) containers.
Look at most trailers on the roads now. They are bigger to carry more.
Round tunnels + large square trailers = chaos.

 

[srtaylo0]

Its a nice thought - but I dont think our pre 20C canals are upto the job of modern haulage. Can you imagine how long it would take by boat to get from say leeds to hull compared to the m62 ? Then theres the width (or lack there of)

That said there has to be some routes that are viable ?
Don't they still use the river trent to get coal to the power stations ?

 

[GRAV888]

This is why the RHA won't back any current disputes.

Won't they?

Roger King was at the demo yesterday along with the FTA.

 

[verytalldave]

...

 

[st4]

A protest would voice the signal to the government that raising fuel duties and VED etc is not a way to win votes. A major one would have that desired effect.

The government has c. 50p of slack in terms of duty to cut to ease the rise in fuel prices, unless it likes a high rate of inflation.

 

[Dieselman]

Won't they?

Roger King was at the demo yesterday along with the FTA.

He may have attended in a personal capacity but the RHA are not supporting this action and distance thmselves from the group Transaction 2007.

This is an old-ish comment but there was a current one yesterday.

http://www.roadtransport.com/blogs/2007/12/truckers-call-for-fuel-protest.html

They have lobbied the Chancellor but as their document shows they have no teeth, which is evident by the lack of attention paid by the Chancellor, however they are still not calling for members to take direct action.

In 10 years the tax on fuel has risen approximately 25% (which is broadly in line with inflation) wheras the total cost of fuel has risen over 250%.
It's a misnomer to say the problem is a taxation one.

I personally don't like high fuel prices but can see that it isn't really a Govenment created issue other than the tax being high anyway, but that revenue would have to be raised from somewhere.

I read that fuel can be as much as 40% of a lorry operating cost, but that is a meaningless figure on it's own, what is that as a percentage of income and what else is included in the operating costs?

Many businesses have high "consumable" costs which are rising whereas the income per unit charge is falling.

 

[GRAV888]

He may have attended in a personal capacity but the RHA are not supporting this action and distance thmselves from the group Transaction 2007.

See here. About 1 minute into video

 

[Dieselman]

This MIGHT be a useful linky for improving the efficiency of diesel fuel so giving a saving.

The product used as a cetane improver to give diesel a better burn with more power/economy is 2 ethyl hexyl nitrate.
I've been looking where to buy it from.

http://www.exchem-organics.co.uk/Fuels_Additives/fuel_add.htm

I should've looked earlier as I've bought 5 litres of Power plus4 today.

 

[timskemp]

Bring back BR and get these juggernauts off the road. The government encouraged us to use the rails and public transports but say nothing about hauling goods.

Road fuel prices have increased by less in percentage terms than untaxed rail / air /sea fuel, which is closer in relation to the crude price.

So prices still go up. And last mile delivery is still by road.

 

[Dieselman]

See here. About 1 minute into video

Fair enough but that's direct contradiction of his previous comments.

So why won't the RHA support wider action and call on their members for a unified plan of action.? That appears out of kilter with supporting this action.

For info fuel taxation rates across the EU and the proposal for a harmonised tax rate by 2010.

 

[GRAV888]

Fair enough but that's direct contradiction of his previous comments.

So why won't the RHA support wider action and call on their members for a unified plan of action.?

Because members of the RHA, such as myself, had a vote.
The majority voted not to do a repeat of 2000.
Why?

Because for the protest yesterday we were given permission, but we have been told we will have our operators licences revoked if we do a repeat of 2000. You cannot take anything away from the workers at Grangemouth, so they can do whatever they like.