Peterborough, UK: The Road Haulage Association is imploring the government to pledge immediate financial support for hauliers who face going out of business because of the coronavirus crisis.
RHA chief executive Richard Burnett warned transport secretary Grant Shapps that there is the possibility of retail and food outlet closures in the weeks to come, driving a downturn in volume.
Burnett called on the transport secretary to undertake a series of measures including immediate cash flow injections, deferment of tax payments, and a delay to the launch of clean air zones by at least six months.
Burnett said: “We need to get immediate financial relief into these businesses over and above the measures announced in last week’s Budget.
“Without this support businesses will risk closure as 85% of the haulage market is SME and holds no more than two to three weeks of cash flow. Any drop in volume will mean businesses can’t be sustained.
“The government will need to provide more radical financial support to ensure they survive.”
