Tow‑Truck Firm Says £10,000 Hit from Fuel Price Rise, Urges Fuel Duty Reduction

A UK‑based small‑scale tow‑truck company says the latest surge in petrol and diesel costs has inflated its yearly outlay by about £10,000, a figure it claims endangers the business's sustainability.

It places most of the extra cost on the rise in fuel duty, estimating that a cut of 30‑50 pence per litre would be required to relieve the pressure. Absent such a reduction, the firm warns it could find it difficult to keep service standards and might have to increase charges for its clients.

Fuel duty, a levy charged on each litre of road fuel in Britain, is presently set at 57.95 pence per litre for petrol and 58.95 pence for diesel. While the tax is meant to finance road upkeep and reduce emissions, opponents claim it hits mileage‑intensive sectors—like haulage, delivery and roadside assistance—disproportionately.

The cost squeeze faced by the tow‑truck firm reflects a wider pattern in transport, as wholesale fuel prices have surged over the last year after global oil markets recovered and supply‑chain hiccups persisted. Numerous small enterprises now say fuel occupies a bigger slice of their operating expenses than it did pre‑pandemic.

Speaking to the BBC, the tow‑truck proprietor urged an immediate reassessment of the duty, proposing that a modest 30‑50 pence per litre cut would align fuel costs with pre‑spike figures and safeguard vital roadside assistance.

Officials have not yet replied to the appeal, yet the matter is expected to surface in forthcoming transport‑tax and environmental policy consultations. Analysts note that any change to fuel duty must weigh revenue needs against the economic effect on mileage‑heavy firms, while staying consistent with the UK’s wider climate goals.