July/Aug 2004

As the UK's proposed lorry road-user charging scheme inches inexorably closer, the Government has announced a shortlist of ten potential suppliers for the underlying systems and equipment. They are Accenture, Autostrade, BT, Capita Group, DaimlerChrysler Services, IBM, Serco, Siemens, T Systems International and Tracs Consortium.

These companies have been invited to submit proposals to HM Customs & Excise on how they will put the Government's plan into practice. The successful bidder will be responsible for the supply and commissioning of the system, and will be the organisation dealing with lorry operators on a day-to-day basis when the system goes live.

Final bid documents are expected to be issued in January, and contracts are likely to be placed by the end of 2005. The charge is expected to come into force in 2007 or 2008.

The Freight Transport Association is continuing to make encouraging noises about the scheme, and policy director James Hookham says the organisation "looks forward to some imaginative and value-for-money ideas" from the bidders. He has encouraged them to come forward and discuss their plans with the FTA.