Member Article

Europa MD comments on Autumn Statement

Andrew Baxter, Managing Director of Europa, one of the UK’s largest privately owned transport companies, has welcomed the freezing of the planned fuel duty rise announced in today’s Autumn Statement as “delivering significant benefits to the British freight industry.”

Europa has just opened a new branch at Calder Park, near Wakefield.

He added, “At last, the Government has recognised the need for this kind of relief – not just for businesses but for consumers too, who have felt the knock on effects as higher transport costs have led to rising prices further down the line.

“For too long the British freight industry has been unfairly penalised by high fuel costs. While the recent fuel duty freeze has gone some way towards helping to minimise rising operator costs, this has been against a backdrop of a struggling UK economy – to say the least.

“Now we must hope that the tentative growth of the economy, coupled with the measures announced today, spell a brighter future for the UK haulage industry.”

Europa was acquired in August by Andrew Baxter, formerly of RH Group. It is represented in 100 countries across six continents, and provides an unrivalled land service to the whole of Europe. In the UK, it employs 500 people over 10 branches and in 2012 had a turnover of £73m, carrying some 500,000 consignments.

As part of the acquisition Mr Baxter announced his plans for investment in the business and maximising its potential outside of its European business, in air, ocean and logistics operations.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Kathryn Greenwood .