British Truckers Are Outraged By a 33-Cent Diesel Tax Hike

March 16, 1999 9:16 AM, EST

PARIS — British truckers are reacting with disbelief and outrage at their government’s decision to increase diesel taxes this year by almost the equivalent of the bulk price of diesel fuel itself, according to the Freight Transport Association.

“The reaction from our members is that they can’t believe it, and that they are very depressed,” said Geoff Dossetter, head of external relations for the British group. “It’s the government saying to us: ‘We don’t care what happens to you.’ ”

The increase, which was included in the government’s budget announced March 9, means truckers will pay an additional fuel tax this year of about 33 cents a gallon. British taxes on diesel fuel now amount to about 90% of the cost of fuel, or about $3.30 a gallon, more than twice the tax paid in any other European country.

In a written statement to the news media, the FTA did not mince its words, calling the higher tax “crass, cruel and crazy.”

“The (government’s) crude strategy of bleeding the transport industry to pay for government expenditures is grossly unfair and stupidly short-sighted,” Dossetter said. “Government should be about helping industry, not stealing from it.”

For the full story, see the March 15 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.