THE Confederation of British Industry has backed fleet demands for a dramatic increase in road investment to avert the impending crisis facing the transport industry. The CBI is calling for a 35% increase in transport spending in a sustained effort to tackle the deepening problems afflicting the UK's crumbling transport infrastructure.

Speaking at the Exel Logistics Forum, deputy director of the CBI, general Peter Agar, said that after years of under-investment, the time had come to act. In an uncompromising message to the Conservatives - and a possible future Labour Government, Agar said investment had to rise from its current £7-8 billion level to around £11 billion a year if Britain was to catch up with its European competitors.

The CBI's demands mirror the fleet industry's growing concern over the current Government's ambivalence to the transport issue.