LEZ: Compliance guide from FTA

The Freight Transport Association has published a compliance guide for lorry operators managing vehicles within the Greater London Low Emission Zone. The guide provides information on the scheme itself, exemption details, payment arrangements, advice on penalty charges and guidance for drivers in advance of the LEZ implementation on 4 February 2008.

FTA’s Head of Policy for London, Gordon Telling says, ‘We have tried to simplify our advice by using flow-charts detailing the options available for transport managers and drivers.

‘FTA remains unconvinced that the expense of the scheme, both to London taxpayers and to commercial vehicle operators, will result in an improvement in air quality which would not have been achieved in any event by advances in engine technology and existing legislation.

‘However, for his own reasons the Mayor has decided to go forward with the scheme and the industry is obliged to adhere to its needs or to pay enormous charges or fines for failing to do so.

‘As such the FTA Compliance Guide is designed to be a practical aid to operating lorries in the capital under the new regulations.’

The FTA Compliance Guide to the Greater London Low Emission Zone is available to FTA members only on the FTA website fta.co.uk or hard copies on application to FTA on 08717 11 22 22.