Truckers plan a repeat of the blockades of 2008 that brought traffic to a standstill

The spectre of trucks blockading streets in protest at record fuel prices – on top of student and public-sector worker demonstrations – will be raised tomorrow when the haulage industry unveils a campaign to force government to halt rises in petrol duty.

The plans, backed by the Freight Transport Association and others, come amid warnings from the AA that recent tax rises, on top of soaring oil prices, are driving motorists off the road and damaging the wider economy.

The price of crude has risen from less than $40 per barrel to more than $90 over the last two years and many are predicting it could break through the $100 mark within months.

Peter Carroll, a trucker and veteran of previous fuel-price protests, said demonstrations were planned, with vehicles on the streets in London in the run-up to the next budget.

“The road haulage industry is being strangled to death by rises in VAT and fuel tax duties and we are working with everyone in the industry and MPs to get government action,” he added.

Ministers raised fuel tax twice in 2010 and a third time earlier this month. Another rise is planned for April. The price of fuel has also been increased by VAT hikes and the rising cost of crude.

Edmund King, president of the AA, said ministers needed to act immediately to cancel a third proposed fuel tax increase planned for April.

“The government can put pressure on Opec to increase the production of oil, as we saw Gordon Brown do in 2008, but it also needs to scrap plans for the April increase of 1p per litre plus the price of inflation. That was conceived before the latest VAT increase and is totally unsustainable,” he added