Jacqui O'Donovan

Another leading haulier has spoken out against the extension of London’s Low Emission Zone (LEZ) this week.

Jacqueline O’Donovan, MD of O’Donovan Waste Disposal, is warning that the extended LEZ, combined with the introduction of the Direct Vision Standard (DVS) and plans to extend the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) is a “total car crash” which is forcing hauliers out of London.

Her comments follow an open letter last week from Mike Parr, MD of Feltham-based Perishable Movements (PML) to Mayor Sadiq Khan criticising his decision to widen the LEZ, which he said is crippling his business.

The extension of the LEZ was introduced on 1 March and now includes all roads within Greater London, those at Heathrow and parts of the M1 and M4. Charges for non-compliant vehicles range from £100 to £300 per day.

The extension was launched on the same day as the DVS lorry safety scheme was rolled out.

Speaking to MT, O’Donovan said hauliers are turning their back on the capital in response to the cost of having to meet LEZ and DVS standards.

She warned the shortage that will only get worse once the London ULEZ is extended on 25 October to create a single larger zone bounded by the North Circular Road (A406) and South Circular Road (A205).

O’Donovan said: “Companies we would normally hire are no longer available to us because they don’t want to come into the Low Emission Zone or because they have no clue as to how to get a DVS permit.

“I can’t blame them. These are not big companies with their own compliance teams and they do not have the time or the resources. The processes are far too complicated; the DVS website is absolutely atrocious and navigating it is horrendous.”

She addded: “I am all for safer roads and protecting vulnerable road users but these policies have been rushed along. The amount of money and time and manpower this is costing is horrendous.

“And this will only get worse. I am dreading what will happen when the pandemic ends and the ULEZ is launched in October. How will we get enough hauliers, how do we maintain the client base and our service levels? It is a total car crash.”