On one hand you have a Scottish government saying it will be “business as usual” for hauliers on both sides of the border, and in the other you have a UK government warning that there will be legal and economic repercussions for a newly independent state.
But which is better? There’s only one way to find out! FIIGGHHHTTT… wait. It doesn’t have to come to that as we live in a free democracy these days and Scots can go to the ballot and vote peacefully on such matters. Which they will on Thursday 18 September.
With that in mind, let’s outline some of the key positions that will determine the future of road transport in the UK. The Hub doesn't have a view, insofar as it wants what is best for logistics and haulage businesses:
IMPACT OF A 'YES' VOTE
The Scottish government’s position is: “As a member of the EU, an independent Scotland will meet its obligations under EU law with regards to the haulage industry. Regulation that is in place immediately before independence will be inherited on independence.
“Thereafter, decisions on the regulatory framework will be made by the parliament and government of an independent Scotland in line with Scotland’s interests and to suit Scotland’s circumstances.”
This would see the creation of a Scottish Motor Services Agency, likely early in the second parliament, which will bring together the functions of DVLA, DVSA, and the Vehicle Certification Agency.
An independent Scotland would also retain the traffic commissioner role, held by Joan Aitken.
“Scottish users contribute fully to the cost of providing these services and it is therefore the current Scottish Government’s intention to continue to use them in the immediate post-independence period,” said a spokesman for the Scottish government. “Independence will allow the Scottish parliament to determine the best way to deliver motoring services in the future.”
BETTER TOGETHER?
“The UK government believes Scotland is better off in the UK and the UK is better off with Scotland in it, and working together as part of the UK helps create better opportunities and more secure jobs," a spokeswoman for the UK government told The Hub.
“A benefit of the UK is that hauliers throughout Britain are not subject to cabotage restrictions when operating within the UK. The UK government would be obliged by EU rules to apply these restrictions to an independent Scotland, in line with those imposed on hauliers based in the rest of the European Union,” she added.
The government has also said that it was reviewing the implications independence would have on the o-licence system and it was “convinced that it is better for business and the effective, efficient regulation of the road haulage industry across Britain for Scotland to remain in the UK.”
It has also confirmed that the HGV Levy would apply to trucks registered to hauliers in an independent Scotland.