Cities across the UK will start levying prohibitively high charges on older HGVs and vans for air quality reasons, between early 2019 and the end of 2020, says the Freight Transport Association (FTA). 

London has plans that could see, at the same time, many HGVs banned from the capital for having insufficient direct vision.

Operators need to plan procurement or other coping strategies now to ensure the business impact is minimised and the FTA Transport Manager Conferences, sponsored by Iveco, will ensure attendees have the latest information about what will happen where, which vehicles will be affected, and how best to plan for them, it said.

The Government has named 32 local authorities across England that have to take further action on air quality, but it is a complicated picture as to which of these will result in a charging zone affecting commercial vehicles. 

The session will set out FTA’s insight as to where and when charges can be expected.  It will also brief on the effects of the London Direct Vision Standard, which could see more than half the +12 tonne HGVs that currently visit London banned completely in 2020.

FTA’s head of National & Regional Policy, Christopher Snelling, who will be leading the session, said:  “Over the next three years a series of blanket restrictions will come into force in UK cities for HGVs and vans. 

“With retrofitting of existing vehicles unlikely to be an option for most operators, transport managers need to be prepared for what is ahead, so the procurement of future fleets can be planned.”

Headline sponsor, Iveco, will give a vehicle manufacturer’s perspective on the subject.  Iveco’s alternative fuel director, Martin Flach, will provide an update on alternative fuel vehicles and the demands for Euro VI trucks in order to meet the government’s proposed requirements.

Flach said: “We applaud local authorities’ efforts to improve inner city air quality.  The impact on truck operators is likely to be great, with many having to replace significant parts of their fleets to avoid incurring heavy penalties.  This may be a fact they are not fully aware of.  Iveco welcomes the opportunity to inform the audience at these important conferences.”

The conferences, which are also supported by Brigade Electronics and Goodyear Tyres, have been running for more than 20 years. 

They will provide an opportunity for delegates to hear direct from the Traffic Commissioner, with other sessions covering enforcement priorities and roadside stops, apprenticeships and skills, employment law, preventing vehicle use in terrorism activity and vehicle technology and in-cab cameras.

For a full list of dates and venues, click here.