A long-established Fife haulier has backed The Courier’s fight for fairer fuel, saying it would be easy for the government to cut duty.
Don Barclay of Barclay Brothers Ltd in Methil, who is also the Fife chairman of the Scottish Road Haulage Association, said the soaring price of diesel means hauliers have no choice but to pass on the costs to their customers.
Barclay Bros-in operation for 40 years and which has 20 vehicles-mainly transports timber, telegraph poles and building materials, and Mr Barclay has been calling for fuel duty regulation for a decade.
“The haulier that doesn’t pass on the increase to his customers is the loser,” he said.
“We’ve tried over the years through the association to get a fuel regulator but the government didn’t listen to us.
“I’ve asked my customers what they’re doing about it and it’s up to them now as far as I’m concerned.”
Mr Barclay added, “My view still is that they should reduce the duty and increase the VAT.
“It’s a much easier thing to do, but the government will do everything in its power to make sure it’s unworkable.”
He said each of his lorries uses 70p of diesel per mile, a cost that soon adds up with 20 lorries travelling across the UK and beyond.
“I think we might get the odd few people protesting but unless we get the supermarkets and the oil companies behind it, it won’t matter,” he added.