Road hauliers are calling on Alistair Darling to offer them some financial assistance in next week's Budget.

The chancellor, who delivers his first Budget statement on Tuesday, has been urged to consider measures that will help hard-pressed haulage firms and commercial fleets.

At a meeting last month, the Freight Transport Association (FTA) asked for plans to increase fuel duty on diesel by 2p per litre to be scrapped.

The trade body also urged Mr Darling to extend a freeze on vehicle excise duty (VED) for lorries until 2009.

The FTA claims the Treasury already brings in £5.7 billion in VED and diesel duty from hauliers, at a time when they are struggling against competition form overseas, rising fuel prices and annual costs like insurance.

Mr Darling will be hoping to strike a balance between appeasing groups like the FTA and pushing ahead with plans to use taxes and charges to reduce emissions from road vehicles.

A new guide to buying environmentally-friendly light commercial vehicles does not go far enough in helping van insurance customers reduce their carbon footprint, it has been claimed.The Right Van Man,...

Failing to look after tyres could result in a van insurance claim, motorists have been warned.TyreSafe stated too many drivers are risking their own safety and that of other road users by skimping on ...

Companies in the UK need to put more effort into reducing work-related van insurance claims, it has been suggested.Figures provided by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (Rospa) reveale...