I welcome the news from the Autumn Budget that £32.5m is to be invested in roadside facilities for our hauliers. I recently lobbied the Secretary of State for Transport on behalf of a trucking firm from Llandrindod Wells – AE Goughs. The lack of toilet, washing and food facilities and somewhere safe to park throughout the UK really do act as a barrier to many joining the sector – preventing firms like Gough from being able to recruit. It is also good news that fuel duty and vehicle excise duty will remain frozen, and the HGV road user levy will be suspended for another year. I will follow this closely but it is a huge welcome for the industry. Its vital that everyone pulls together to ensure we can keep on trucking.
