Monday, May 26, 2008

bloody idiots ...


Lorry drivers are to pour into London for what organisers hope will be the largest-ever fuel duty protest in the capital.

Hauliers are angry at soaring fuel prices which have resulted in the average cost of diesel passing far beyond the 120p-a-litre mark.

Led by lorry drivers from Kent, the protest is expected to attract hundreds of hauliers from all around the UK.

The convoy will make its way to central London, parking close to Marble Arch.

Transport for London said the A40 will be closed between White City and Edgware Road, west London, from 10am until 3pm so that demonstrators can park their lorries.

The westbound carriageway of the A40, going out of London, will remain open.

A delegation from the demonstrators will hand a letter to 10 Downing Street demanding the immediate introduction of an essential user rebate which would allow HGV operators to claim some of the fuel duty back.

Mike Presneill, a leading member of Transaction 2007, who is helping to organise the protest, said: "Fuel is rocketing. The Government has the power to act but appears not to be listening. Hundreds of UK transport firms are being driven to the wall. Thousands of UK jobs are being lost.

"Foreign hauliers are entering the UK with cheaper fuel purchased abroad. They contribute nothing to our economy."

Kent-based haulier Peter Knight said: "This is the economics of the mad house. If we are wiped out, the work will be done by foreign hauliers who pay nothing to the UK in tax."

A smaller fuel protest convoy hit the streets of London earlier this year.
Source

A few points from the sane side of the argument.

1) These fuckers can't be short of cash despite their bleating because they can afford to lose a day's work and waste thousands on diesel.

2) This fantasy about 'foreign' lorries coming over and stealing OUR work (and women no doubt) is ridiculous. What do they do, drive across the Channel? What about the hundreds/thousands it would cost 'em in ferry fees? And why don't these socialist scum - most of whom appear to be Kent based - go over to France and fill up and do the same thing?? Many UK hauliers have branches in Europe anyway. And, despite what these tattooed Humpty Dumptys claim, fuel in the EU is almost as expensive as it is here in any case.

3) Tax is high in the UK on fuel, but where do they think foreign countries get the tax from if it's not on fuel? Yes, on everything else. If fuel tax fell in the UK it would only be taken somewhere else - and possibly somewhere where we'd not have the choice to reduce consumption (and our own tax).

4) Even the most fanatical road supporter would concede that road haulage is a dying industry. As oil/petrol/diesel runs out ALL medium/long distance freight will have to switch to rail. This is rail's opportunity to grab this trade NOW, by offering good deals to companies needing their freight moved by modern transport. Far from going to foreign companies, freight will continue its switch to rail, though at an accelerated pace. The switch to rail will also be a huge opportunity to forward thinking haulage companies who could set up their own railfreight departments to use their existing contacts and networks to modernise their industry.

5) Poor Peter Knight may think that this is all 'the economics of the madhouse' but he seems keen to want to make it even more so!

6) Roads with fewer/no lorries will be a far pleasanter place for car drivers. Less lorries would equal less demand for diesel (trains use a quarter of the amount for the same weight carried) and the price would rise less than if much was being wasted on inefficient road freight.

7) No car driver should support this 'action'. It is not in our interest to do so.

8) The price of fuel will continue to rocket. Diesel will probably hit £2 a litre by the middle of 2009. Haulage companies need to make hay whilst the sun shines and start organising their companies' switch to rail now, not in 2 or 3 years time.
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1 comment:

Anonymous said...

In response to your (rather childish) comments.

Most truck drivers I know (and there are a few thousand of them) are having to seriously consider coming off the road as not only is fuel crippling them but also road tax, insurance, security measures for those travelling overseas have a major effect on costings.

2) Moving to rail isn't going to be much cheaper seeing as a majority of freight in the UK is hauled by DIESEL traction!!!

It honestly sounds to me like you are either:

A) A failed truck driver who couldn't even pass the HGV test.

B) An A Typical car driver who thinks they own the road and that no-one should get in their way.

C) A Moron....