RHA to represent the haulage industry in cartel claim
The Road Haulage Association has sought legal advice and intends to honour its commitment to its members by pursuing the case for compensation from the truck manufacturers who have been identified as being involved in a coordinated truck price fixing cartel.
RHA chief executive Richard Burnett said: “As the representative body with sole responsibility for UK road freight operators, we consider ourselves duty-bound to acknowledge and act upon our members’ wishes. They have made it clear that they feel aggrieved at the news of a truck pricing cartel and are looking to us to represent them.
“Last week, the Association’s board of directors (comprising member-elected individuals from RHA member companies) met to discuss the European Commission’s £2.5bn fine. Their unanimous decision was that the Association should progress compensation claims on behalf of its members.”
Commenting, RHA National Chairman Jim French, director of PD Portcentric Logistics, said: “This is a serious issue for the haulage industry – both for hauliers in general and our members in particular. The road transport sector works to extremely tight margins and the truck itself is the largest capital investment our members make. Therefore they are looking for compensation from the manufacturers.
“The process for such a large number of interested parties is complex but we have been in discussions with our legal advisors so that we can progress the matter further.
“I wish to make it clear that the Road Haulage Association will not, itself, be benefitting from any financial action.”
Concluding, Mr French said: “We are keen to maintain the amicable and close working relationship we have always enjoyed with the truck manufacturers, as they have with their customers. We would seek to act in a way which resolves the interests of our members as swiftly and as appropriately as possible.”
