Robert Halfon, MP for Harlow delivered a speech in the House of Commons, suggesting every pump receipt should include the amount of fuel duty paid and how much would spent on road building and other purposes.

Now that the Government are putting information on Whitehall spending and procurement contracts on the internet to increase transparency, Mr Halfon said the same should be done for fuel duty.

According to FairFuelUK, out of a petrol or diesel fill up of £85, nearly £50 goes straight to the Treasury as tax.

Kate Gibbs, a spokesperson for Road Haulage Association said, “This initiative will serve as a real wake up call to all users of road fuels; petrol or diesel.”

FairFuelUK was central to a campaign that successfully deferred a 3p fuel duty increase from August to January 2013. However, it is now hoping to squash the increase all together and claims if it were to go ahead, the tax take per fuel purchase would become 59.32 percent.

“Filling the tank, regardless of size, has always been costly. If the cost of the fuel duty and the VAT is clearly shown on the receipt, it will make users far more aware of just where their money is going,”

“The price of fuel has become a wide reaching political issue; it affects everyone. If this move for transparency goes ahead, fuel pricing has the potential to become a real vote winner, or indeed vote loser”, continued Gibbs.

This is a move that could benefit the economy in general and the road haulage sector in particular as customers will see that they are getting the best possible rate for the job.

Mr Halfon’s campaign is backed by FairFuelUK, which has gathered more than 15,000 signatures on a petition.

Earlier this year, Chancellor George Osborne delayed a planned 3p rise in fuel duty from August 1st to January 1st next year following campaigns against it.

In other news,  Is your fleet fuel bill giving you nightmares?

Achieve added control over your fuel purchases. www.forecourtfuelcards.co.uk will help you to manage your account and transactions for optimum efficiency and convenience

Here at Forecourt Fuel Cards we understand that managing a fleet of vehicles is one of the biggest challenges faced by fleet companies right now. We have an expert understanding of these problems and offer a range of tailor made solutions to eliminate these challenges. Here are the top five concerns of fleet companies and what our range of Fuel Cards can do to eliminate them.

1. The fuel hike

We are all sick and tired of paying sky high diesel and petrol prices and we are beginning to wonder if and when pump prices will ever stop going up.
Fuel costs have hit all-time highs recently and in many cases can make a huge dent in your profits and balance sheet if not carefully managed.
Perhaps you’ve had a fuel card account before but were left disillusioned after empty promises of savings from the supplier that never materialised?
Finding the right fuel card company that can deliver on those promises can be like looking for a needle in a haystack.

2. Savings

We will GUARANTEE that you save a minimum of 3pence per litre off national average pump prices. This unique offer from Forecourt Fuels ensures you pay the lowest possible rates and safeguards you against any unnecessary price increases.
Imagine if you could couple that price guarantee with a bespoke network of service stations, tailored to suit your vehicles routes throughout the UK.
Don’t worry, getting lower fuel prices doesn’t mean you have to compromise on the site coverage available to you by driving off route to find a station or worse still, risk running out of fuel trying to find the nearest site!

3. Managing complex fleets

Regardless of whether you’re a one man band running one vehicle or a fleet manager for a national business with a large fleet of cars, vans and trucks, along of course with the large group of drivers or employees that goes with them, Forecourt Fuels can help you manage your re-fuelling more effectively.

4. Keeping on track

Keeping track of fuel spend isn’t always easy with vehicles constantly on the road. Compared to cash or a credit card, Forecourt Fuel Cards are far more secure because the purchase restrictions can guarantee that only fuel is being bought by your drivers. Also, the management reports we provide will both instantly eliminate the administrative burden of entering individual fuel receipts into your books (not to mention that you will never fail to reclaim VAT due to a lost receipt again) and make purchase control easier because you can see at a glance what each vehicle/driver is using. You can even run and download your own bespoke reports using Velocity, our free, cutting edge online technology.

5. Security

In terms of security, when using one of our fuel cards, you’re buying fuel through the most secure method available, as you decide what each card will be able to purchase, starting with diesel only, right up to everything the forecourt shop has to offer.

Achieve added control over your fuel purchases whilst saving money. www.forecourtfuels.co.uk will help you to manage your account and transactions for optimum efficiency and convenience.

Forecourt Fuel Cards have learned that Unite want the government to set up a regional task force to deal with the economic fall-out from the proposed closure of the Coryton oil refinery with the loss of 800 jobs.

Unite, the largest union in the country, has joined with Thurrock Council to call for ministers to form a beefed-up task force, backed up with government cash, to combat the expected £250 million loss to the south Essex economy.

The message for urgent government aid will be reinforced at a public meeting calling for a public inquiry into the reasons for Coryton closure in the Main Hall, the Pegasus Club, Herd Lane, Corringham SS17 9BJ at 7.00pm Wednesday, 11 July.

The Coryton refinery is set to be sold and converted into an import terminal for fuel, leading to the loss of over 800 jobs. Unite has repeatedly called for a short-term government bail-out to tide the plant over until a buyer can be found to safeguard the refinery and the employees’ future.

In a letter to Mark Prisk, Minister at the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), Unite’s assistant general secretary, Tony Burke said that closure will have “a catastrophic effect on the local economy, dismantling a skilled workforce, not to mention the impact on other businesses and employment in the locality”.

Calling for Mr Prisk to head the regional task force, Tony Burke said: “We would make no secret of the fact that assistance to the local area needs to be backed up by significant additional government funds and that BIS recognises the need to give the highest priority.”

In other news, Bad jokes and advice for Fleet Drivers in heavy rain and floods.

Did you know we can save you a guaranteed minimum of 3 pence per litre on diesel pump prices when using one of our fuel cards?  

Visit www.forecourtfuels.co.uk for more information.

Fire and Rescue Services from all over the UK will be taking part in a National Fire and Rescue Service Road Safety Day to highlight to drivers the dangers they face on the nation’s main roads and motorway network.

The event is being co-ordinated by the Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA), and takes place on Friday, July 6, from 10am until 4pm.

Staff from more than 40 fire and rescue services from across the country will be involved on the day, and will be placed at strategic locations in their own service areas all over the country to deliver succinct road safety messages.

These locations will involve motorway service stations, larger petrol station sites on dual and A roads, city and town centres, including major retail parks and supermarkets over the country – anywhere where there is the opportunity for firefighters to engage with the driving public.

Martin Dowle, community safety manager for the Fire and Rescue Service, said: “A highly visible road safety presence will take place across the country on this day to highlight the dangers drivers face on our major roads and motorways.

“Our unique brand and ability to engage with all groups and ages in our society places us in an enviable position where we can make a difference by working with others with the same aims of creating a safer society.

“This multi-agency approach will demonstrate regional partnership working at a national level.”

To find out which Fire Services are involved and where they will be Click Here

In other News, How Fleet drivers can be safer behind the wheel on long journeys.

Achieve added control over your fuel purchases.
www.forecourtfuels.co.uk will help you to manage your account and transactions for optimum efficiency and convenience.

Haulage firms across the country have criticized calls for HGVs to be banned from motorways on a Sunday.

The feeling is that on top of all the other obstacles Haulage and Fleet companies have faced in recent times, this one if it were to go ahead would be particularly damaging to business.

The incoming president of the Institute of Highway Engineers, Richard Hayes, is calling on the UK to consider the ban.

But HGV and Fleet drivers have criticized the suggestion and say it would lead to more traffic chaos during the week.

John Fairbrother, of Barron Wood Distribution Ltd, which has a depot in Much Hoole near Preston, said: “I don’t agree at all. Definitely not.

“It is the lifeblood of the country. The laws that governs trucks are already quite strict. A ban would force more vehicles onto the motorways on the other six days of the week.”

John Gornall of JF Gornall, in Longridge, said: “What goes in shops without going on wheels?

“Unfortunately if they want stuff in the shops they have got to go on the roads. People wouldn’t be getting their deliveries, it would definitely have an impact.”

Richard Hayes had earlier called for the ban claiming it would bring the UK in line with the rest of Europe.

He said: “Restricting HGVs’ use of the road network on Sundays is commonplace throughout the rest of Europe and it is something I strongly believe we should consider introducing in the UK.

“Weekends should be a relaxing time on our roads when the network is used mainly by the general public going about their leisure activities. Many drivers are intimidated by heavy lorries thundering up and down our motorways and major A roads.

“Surely it is not too much to ask that we take some of the tension out of the system for one day a week.”

Mr Hayes wants the issue investigated by the Department of Transport.

In other Fleet and HGV news, Fleet & Haulage companies still concerned with pump prices

Achieve added control over your fuel purchases. www.forecourtfuels.co.uk will help you to manage your account and transactions for optimum efficiency and convenience.

New research by the (FTA) Freight Transport Association, shows that operating costs for heavy goods vehicles are at the highest they have ever been.

According to the FTA, the constant rising price of fuel is to blame for the crippling operating costs and is leaving the UK freight industry struggling to compete with haulage companies all over Europe.

Simon Chapman, FTA’s Chief Economist, says: “The high price of diesel is the number one concern keeping hauliers awake at night. Fuel now represents around 40 per cent of annual operating costs compared to around a third just three years ago.”

Between April 2011 and April 2012, the increased cost of diesel alone pushed the running costs of a 44 tonne articulated vehicle up by the equivalent of £1,900 per year.

“Whilst operating costs have now reached an all-time high, hauliers face pressure from customers not to raise their haulage rates and are seeing overall levels of activity fall as the economy slides back into recession. As a result, hauliers are struggling to keep their balance sheets in the black, with a growing number having to close their gates permanently,” Chapman continued.

According to the FTA, UK diesel duty is on average 24 pence per litre higher than the rest of Europe. A foreign carrier entering the UK with a full tank of fuel can potentially undertake a week’s work using low-cost fuel purchased on the continent, before returning to mainland Europe.

Chapman argues: “There is a compelling case for an immediate cut in diesel duty. Independent research undertaken by the Centre for Economic and Business Research shows a modest 3 pence per litre cut in duty today would be cash neutral to the Treasury within 12 months.

“The loss in revenue from duty would be fully offset by extra revenues and savings on the public purse resulting from more rapid economic growth.”

In other news, 5 tips that can cut your fleet costs by £200 !

Did you know we can save you a guaranteed 3 pence per litre on diesel pump prices when using one of our fuel cards?  

Visit www.forecourtfuels.co.uk for more information.

Motoring experts Haynes have revealed top tips that if followed could save Fleet Managers a potential £200+ per vehicle per year, encouraging fleet vehicle drivers to carry out simple maintenance jobs themselves.

There is a widespread misconception that modern cars are too complicated to do your own maintenance. That is simply not true and research shows that huge savings can be made by taking on simple tasks, like replacing windscreen wipers or changing a light bulb.

This list comes to coincide with the launch of Haynes Online Manuals which will see the firm’s 50 top vehicle care guides made available anytime, anywhere and on any internet or mobile device.

A further 50 titles will be added at regular intervals throughout 2012-13, and the electronic manuals will also be available for purchase via trade customer websites as the programme rolls out.

Vehicle maintenance is often seen as something too complex and challenging for anyone other than an experienced mechanic, but following these simple tips from Haynes could save Britain’s 31 million motorists over £200 each.

1. Change engine oil and filter at least once a year.

The engine is the heart of your car, and it’s essential that you look after it. Changing the engine oil is the single most important thing you can do to prolong engine life, and is easy enough to be done by anyone. Potential saving: £20

2. Fit your own windscreen wiper blades.

A garage could charge you £40 plus to fit new windscreen wiper blades, but they can be bought for just £10 and are very simple to fit, it’ll take less than a minute. Potential saving: £30

3. Use a proper screen wash additive.

People often try and save money on screen wash by using water, and although this will work pretty well during the summer months, that is not the case in the winter. Plummeting temperatures could cause the water in the washer reservoir to freeze and split the reservoir, so it is essential to buy a screen wash additive with antifreeze. Potential saving: New reservoir and pump, £30+.

4. Fit new front brake pads

Having reliable brakes is essential to keeping you and your family safe on the road. Fitting new brake pads is not difficult providing you are patient and follow instructions to the letter. Potential saving: £49.95

5. Fit new direction indicator bulb

You wouldn’t call an electrician to your house to change a light bulb – why get a garage to fit a new bulb to your car? How to change the light depends on the make and model, but most exterior light bulbs are easy to replace once you know how. Potential saving: £88.50

Total saving: £218.45

Haynes manuals have been helping motorists perform these simple tasks and much more for over 50 years, and the new Manuals Online include all the content from the printed manuals with the additional benefits of a glossary of terms, searchable menus, quick links and ‘how to’ videos.

In other news, Fixed Penalty Fines May Rise

Did you know we can save you a guaranteed 3 pence per litre on diesel pump prices when using one of our fuel cards?  

Visit www.forecourtfuels.co.uk for more information.

The Transport Minister is considering whether to increase fixed penalty fines for motoring offences such as speeding and also the introduction of greater punishments for more serious offences such as dangerous driving.
The current £60 fixed penalty charge for less serious motoring offences could rise to £90 in order to act as more of a deterrent to motorists, but speeding is not the only offence that could be punished by a fixed penalty.

Other motoring offences that are not currently punished with a fixed penalty such as “tail-gating”, erratic braking or undertaking another vehicle could in future be treated in the same way as speeding offences.
For more serious offences such as driving without insurance, which currently incurs a £200 fine, it is proposed that this is increased by 50% to reflect the relative seriousness of this offence.

The current levels of penalty fines were set in 2000 and there is a view that with no adjustment having been made for inflation, the severity of the punishment has actually diminished over time and may require revision. With motoring costs such as car insurance and fuel prices proving to be a heavy burden for all motorists in tough times, proposed increases in fixed penalty charges may not be well received.

In other news, Fleets Drivers are warned about Police clampdown on drink driving.

Fuel cards give your fleet drivers an easier and safer alternative to cash or plastic at the pumps. 

Check out www.forecourtfuels.co.uk to see which package best suits your fleet’s needs.   

Rising fuel prices are putting the pinch on businesses everywhere. Many businesses and fuel procurement offices assumed that if they could weather a few tough years, fuel costs would eventually stabilize. That assumption is providing to be incorrect. For better or worse, high oil prices are here to stay.

For fleet managers and independent owner-operators everywhere, effectively managing fuel costs will be critical to maintain profitability in 2012. Luckily, companies have a few options on the table to help coping with the rise in fuel prices. Here are three strategies that companies can use to minimize the impact of high fuel prices on their bottom line.

Improve Fuel Purchasing - In addition to the price of oil rising, the market has also become increasingly volatile. Swings of five pence per litre in a day are fairly common these days. Building some predictability into fuel procurement can help fleets make smarter buying decisions. There are a number of options to accomplish this but one that can help smaller fleets is the Forecourt Fuels Fuel Card. This card offers a guaranteed 3pence per litre off pump prices at over 5000 stations nationwide. If you are looking to lock in fuel prices, 360 offers a fuel price protection program that can also help you save thousands at the pump.

Drive slower and smarter - Easing your foot off the accelerator is a guaranteed way to reduce expenses. Every 5 mph you drive over 60 costs you an additional 24p per litre, the Department of Energy estimates. That’s because the faster you go, the more work your engine has to do to propel your vehicle.

The sweet spot for fuel efficiency on the motorway is about 55 mph. But slowing from 70 to 60 can help a lot. Doing so on an average 20-mile motorway commute saves about 1.3 litres of Petrol / Diesel in a five-day work week, according to the A A.

Drive more smoothly around town, too — avoid fast acceleration and quick stops. Aggressive driving can lower a vehicles fuel economy significantly.

Plan Routes More Intelligently - A final way to save on fuel costs is to better plan the way that shipments are delivered. This boils down to delivering along more efficient manner routes as well as shipping loads more efficiently. There are a variety of route planning technologies available in transportation management systems. One of my favorite examples of how effective route planning technologies can be is how UPS saved on fuel costs by minimizing the number of left-hand turns drivers make. While this was just a minor change in the way UPS delivered their packages, it ultimately wound up saving them more than 10 million litres of fuel.

Skip premium fuel - Unless your vehicle absolutely requires premium petrol / Diesel, don’t spend the additional 15 to 30 pence per litre.

Consumer Reports says motorists should not waste money on premium if their owner’s manual says the vehicle takes regular — the car won’t run better. The higher-octane fuel is designed to improve performance.

“In most cases, using a higher-octane Petrol / Diesel than your owner’s manual recommends offers absolutely no benefit,” according to the Trade Commission. “It won’t make your vehicle perform better, go faster, get better mileage or run cleaner.”

An exception would be if your engine starts to knock or ping when using a lower-grade fuel.

These are just a few ideas on how to save on fuel costs. What strategies are you seeing work ?

In other news, RAC survey announces that drivers are risking lives checking social media at the wheel.

www.forecourtfuels.co.uk can show you the best deals based on your individual requirements, from your estimated fuel spend to the size of your fleet.