Seven UK business organisations have joined forces to launch the Road Pricing Coalition, calling for businesses that rely on the road network to have a say in how road taxation develops as the country transitions towards cleaner vehicles. The coalition brings together the Road Haulage Association (RHA), Logistics UK, the British International Freight Association (BIFA), the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association, the Chemical Business Association, the British Association of Removers and the Construction Plant-hire Association.
The launch comes as the Government faces a longer-term challenge over how to maintain tax revenues as the number of petrol and diesel vehicles declines. Fuel duty generated around £24.4 billion in the 2024/25 financial year, but the Office for Budget Responsibility expects receipts to halve during the 2030s and approach zero by 2050/51 as more vehicles become electric. With road transport continuing to play a central role in the UK economy, decisions about how road use is taxed could have significant implications for businesses, investment and supply chain costs.
For the logistics and transport sectors, the debate extends beyond how individual motorists pay to use the roads. Hauliers, freight forwarders and other commercial operators depend on road transport to move goods, connect businesses with customers and maintain reliable supply chains. Any changes to taxation could therefore influence operating costs and investment decisions, particularly for businesses already balancing decarbonisation targets with the practical challenges of introducing lower-emission vehicles.
To support the discussion, the coalition has published its first report, Paying for our Roads: The decline of fuel-duty revenues and the choices ahead. The report examines the scale of the challenge facing the Government as fuel-duty income declines, considers approaches to road charging used internationally and explores the choices that will need to be addressed as the UK develops its future approach to road taxation. Rather than endorsing a specific charging model, it sets out five principles intended to provide a starting point for future policy discussions.
These principles call for businesses to be involved throughout policy design, testing, implementation and review, with any reforms supporting wider objectives such as economic growth, productivity, competitiveness, supply chain security and decarbonisation. The report also emphasises fair and proportionate treatment across sectors, vehicle types and regions, including comparable treatment of UK and overseas operators using the same roads. Alongside these considerations, it advocates a phased, transparent and evidence-led approach that gives businesses time to adapt, as well as better coordination between national, devolved and local charging schemes to avoid overlapping costs and unnecessary administrative complexity.
The report highlights why a single approach may not work equally well for every commercial operator. Heavier vehicles and specialist fleets face different challenges from private cars, including vehicle availability, driving range, payload requirements and access to charging infrastructure. These differences matter when considering how future charges could affect businesses, particularly those with limited alternatives to road transport. For smaller operators, additional costs or complicated payment systems could create practical difficulties, making early consultation and real-world testing important considerations in any future reform.
The debate is already moving beyond long-term forecasts, with the Government planning to introduce Electric Vehicle Excise Duty from April 2028 for electric, hydrogen and plug-in hybrid cars. However, vans and HGVs are excluded from the initial scheme, leaving wider questions about how commercial road use might be taxed as the vehicle fleet changes. The coalition argues that businesses should be involved in these discussions from the outset, rather than being asked to respond once the main policy decisions have already been made.
With seven industry organisations representing a broad range of road-dependent businesses, the coalition aims to establish a stronger collective voice in discussions about the future of road taxation. Its first report provides a framework for that conversation, highlighting the need to balance the Government’s changing revenue requirements with the practical realities of running commercial vehicles and delivering goods across the country.
At Sustainable Logistics LIVE 2026 in London on 10 November, Jamie McKean from BIFA and Chris Ashley from the RHA will be joining us for our Regulatory Developments BriteLab. The session will explore the changing regulatory landscape affecting logistics and supply chains, providing an opportunity to discuss emerging challenges and share industry perspectives on what comes next. Join us at SLL2026 to connect with industry experts and explore how collaboration can help businesses navigate the transition to more sustainable logistics: Sustainable Logistics LIVE 2026 London Tickets, Tuesday 10 November • 9 AM – 4:30 PM | Eventbrite
Read the full report, Paying for our Roads: The decline of fuel-duty revenues and the choices ahead, here: RPC Paying for our Roads Report