The Alliance says that the National Government appears to be in the pocket of the Road Transport Forum, with its recent proposals to allow heavier trucks on New Zealand roads.

Alliance Economic Development Spokesperson Quentin Findlay says the plans show National is on a “road to nowhere” with backward-looking ideas.

Mr Findlay says that the Road Transport Forum, headed by former Muldoon-era Cabinet Minister, Tony Friedlander, was getting preferential treatment from the Government.

The promotion of heavy trucking at the expense of other road users had resulted in the Government proposing to allow 50 tonne trucks on specific routes – and up to 65 tonnes in special cases.

The statutory limit is currently 44 tonnes.

Mr Findlay says the Minister of Transport Steven Joyce had ignored the negative effects of “monster trucks on the roads.”

“The real cost of having heavier trucks on the road will be carried by the taxpayer in terms of road maintenance. This is estimated to be between $85 million to $100 million.”

The taxpayer and other users are already paying for increased road usage through increased road levies and road maintenance, effectively subsidizing heavy trucks.

Mr Findlay says that Mr Friedlander’s comments about trucks not being a danger on New Zealand roads did not square with the reality.

He says that long haul road transport using heavy trucks was not a good or sustainable option for New Zealand.

He says the Alliance would regulate the road industry and reimpose a limit on the type of trucks on New Zealand roads and the distance that they could transport goods before they had to be transferred onto rail or coastal shipping.

Mr Findlay says that the transferring of heavy goods onto rail and coastal shipping would mean fewer trucks on the road, lower road maintenance costs, a more sustainable means of transportation and more employment for New Zealanders.

“The proposed changes to road transport simply suit the self interest of the Road Transport Lobby. Is National looking after all New Zealanders or just their well-connected mates?”