The increase in Government fuel duty from Monday (1 October) will not only put up pump prices to over £1 per litre, but will hinder efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transport industry, says the Freight Transport Association.

'The planned increase in fuel duty by 2p per litre from 1 October will cost goods vehicle operators about £1,500 per year for every 100,000 miles they cover,' says FTA's Policy Director James Hookham. 'With many of the larger articulated vehicles doing over 70,000 miles per year - indeed some do up to the full 100,000 miles – the annual increased bill for the industry is over £130 million. As this is unlikely to be recovered from customers in higher haulage rates this year, it will cause a real drainage of cash from smaller businesses which could have been better spent on efficiency and the fuel saving measures which the Government is calling on the industry to take.'

FTA has compiled a list of the top ten greener ways of spending the money instead of giving it to the Treasury in higher fuel duty. So what would £1,500 buy a lorry operator anxious to do his bit towards reducing his carbon footprint?

Two drivers on the Government approved Safe and Fuel Efficient Driver training course (SAFED). Average carbon dioxide savings of seven per cent per driver per year.

Ten vehicle inspections for roadworthiness and maintenance conformity. A well maintained vehicle could save over £2,500 per year over a poorly maintained vehicle.

A two-day training course for a manager to become the 'Carbon Champion' of the company and initiate actions to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

Eight copies of Carbonfta, a new information service from FTA providing detailed guidance and advice on recording, reporting and reducing carbon dioxide emissions from freight transport.

A review of vehicle routes and schedules at three depots to optimise journey length and frequency and reduce overall mileage.

Five members of staff attending a one-day briefing on the major legislative and operational issues affecting hauliers in 2008, including how to record, report and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

A complete compliance package to make a company's road transport operations safe, sound and environmentally friendly – comprehensive advice for the transport manager and the driver.

An environmental audit of two depots providing specific advice on further reductions on environmental impact of depot operations.

Seven hours' training for 15 drivers – legal compliance, fuel saving, environmental policy etc.

Optimising vehicle performance by investment in environmental improvement measures.

Almost everything which we use and consume every day of the year is the product of a lorry journey. Lorries contribute over £4 billion in taxation – well over their costs to the road system. Taxing them even further is bad news for everybody.

Prices quoted are from the current FTA training prospectus and Shopfta catalogue and are available to FTA members only. Prices for non-members may vary.

The Freight Transport Association represents the interests of companies moving goods by road, rail, sea and air. FTA members operate over 200,000 goods vehicles – almost half the UK fleet. In addition they consign over 90 per cent of the freight moved by rail and over 70 per cent of sea and air freight.