Road Haulage Group Lobbies Successfully for Truck Drivers Overnight Allowance Increase

UK – Amidst the doom and gloom of government cutbacks some good news for truck drivers as the intense lobbying by the Road Haulage Association (RHA) has resulted in Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs increasing the Drivers’ Overnight Subsistence Allowance for the drivers of heavy goods vehicles with immediate effect. RHA Employment Services Manager, Peter Butler, commented:

“The drivers’ allowance has been the subject of a series of lengthy and detailed talks that began with HMRC since last year. This is an issue for which the RHA can talk full credit as we are the only Association that negotiates directly with HMRC. The increase is based on the RPI figure as at 1st October last year; 3.2%. This means that the actual increase is just below by 1 or 2 pence that which we asked for. However, for accounting purposes, it is easier to request the rounded figures. The next round of increase negotiations will begin in November 2013 once we have the RPI figures.”

In real terms this now means that the tax free allowances for drivers in equipment fitted without a sleeper cab increases to £34.90, up £1.05p whilst for those with a sleeper cab it rises to £26.20 per night, an increase of £0.80p. All operators should be aware that although this is the maximum tax free allowance for drivers, receipts must still be produced to satisfy the tax authorities (details here).

Photo: The cab of a US Freightliner ‘Cascadia’ sleeper cab. If you had that available why sleep anywhere else?