The scheme has been put in place so that foreign hauliers will have to pay to use our highways, since Britain is one of the only countries in the EU that doesn't charge at the moment.
UK hauliers will apparently be able to claim the money back through road tax, but I imagine it's just more forms to fill in; an extra thing to find time for and I'm pleased to not have to bother with it all as I'm a light-goods-vehicle man.
Filling in van insurance quote forms is bad enough as it is – unless you go with a company which searches for the good deals for you and does it all online.
Still, having said all that, it's quite a positive move forward for the country. Mike Penning, the roads minister, has stated, "Each year there are around 1.5m trips to the UK by foreign registered lorries – but none of them pay to use our roads, leaving UK businesses and taxpayers to foot the bill.
"A lorry road user charge would ensure that all hauliers who use our roads are contributing to their cost, regardless of where they are from – helping UK hauliers to get a fairer deal and increasing employment and promoting growth in the UK."
I just have to hope that the Government don't decide to charge us van drivers too, I could do without the hassle!
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