Latest Fuel News

The rate per mile employers can pay staff for fuel used for business purposes in a company car is set to increase on July 1.Claudine Lashley, from HM Revenue and Customs, told Sky News yesterday: “Changes to tax rates or allowances are a matter for ministers. HMRC is aware of the increasing costs of fuel and will be reviewing rates, and any changes will take effect on July 1.”

The amount, known as the advisory fuel rate, varies depending on the engine size.

Engine Size           Petrol      Diesel        LPG

1400 cc or less        11p        11p           7p

1401cc - 2000cc     13p         11p          8p

Over 2000cc           19p         14p         11p

Currently the mileage rates vary between 11 pence per mile and 19 pence depending on whether you drive a petrol or diesel and the size of the vehicle engine.

With fuel costs soaring, businesses and employees paying for fuel are under increasing financial pressures to maintain normal working practises

Hundreds of hauliers from across the UK are heading into London today for the second protest against rising fuel prices. The lorry drivers are demanding an “essential user” duty rebate for HGV drivers. Heavy congestion is anticipated on roads leading into central London as the truckers, who claim it now costs £1,000 a week to fill up their lorries, leave their vehicles and make their way to 10 Downing Street to hand in a petition. Motorists have been warned to expect major delays

Truck drivers are planning to stage another fuel price protest in London at the end of this month. TransAction 2007, the group behind the recent protest in the capital, has told truckers the next one will take place in Park Lane on May 27th. On its website, Transaction 2007 states: “Next month on Tuesday 27th May 2008, We are going back to Park Lane. BE THERE!”

It also commends the Metropolitan Police for it’s handling of the protest on April 29th, for which 65 truckers travelled to London from as far as Cornwall and mid Wales.

The group adds: “We thank Mr Derek Wyatt MP for playing his part in receiving a ‘coffin’ at the Houses of Parliament, depicting the demise of the UK Road Haulage Industry along with a copy of the Burns Inquiry and letters, for onward movement to HM Treasury Ministers, detailing the demise of the UK Road Haulage Industry.

“There are to many people to name, and thank for assistance in the protest of the 29th April 2008, You all know who you are, but PLEASE accept, THANK YOU! for supporting us at TransAction.”

It also thanks Roger King, chief executive of the Road Haulage Association (RHA), “for delivering a box of oratorical fireworks by way of his address to the media and industry in attendance”.

In concludes: “The message was clear and positive for all to understand, including those that would really not wish to listen. Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling please read this. Take your fingers out of your ears, and sort this God awful mess that the UK Road Haulage Industry and the country is in, before we all go broke…Together, we can all beat this, and other problems facing us.”

A new service which will enable employers to check the validity of driving licences directly with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), is due to be piloted at the end of this month.The service will allow registered companies to view online information from a driver’s licence record using the driver number or other information such as a name, address and date of birth.

Driver licence checks form an integral part of occupational road risk management.

As yet, as highlighted by ACFO, there hasn’t been an easy route to allow companies to check the validity of job applicants’ licences - particularly before the offer of employment is made.

“There is a clear demand from employers for driver licence checks,” said ACFO director Stewart Whyte.

“Therefore, supporting all firms in having the facility to undertake a licence check directly with the DVLA is clearly a great idea, which ACFO wholeheartedly supports.

“Discussions have been ongoing for several years to secure a licence checking service.

“ACFO was advised that a pilot scheme was planned for early 2007.

“However, we understand that the pilot trial was delayed and is only now being started,” explained Mr Whyte. “We are however extremely disappointed that this excellent scheme has been delayed so much.

“We remain hopeful that the pilot will complete successfully in the near future.

“Nevertheless, it remains disappointing that the initiative is not up and running already.

“That is particularly so when both the Government and the HSE have, quite rightly, urged all businesses to review their at-work driver safety and put it on a best practice footing.”

A DVLA spokesman confirmed that the trials will commence at the end of May.

He said that the delays were due to a review of data sharing processes.

He added that the DVLA was not in a position to confirm when the service will be rolled out nationally.