RHA says Commercial Payments Bill progress could ease cash-flow pressure on hauliers

The Road Haulage Association (RHA) says the Commercial Payments Bill has cleared committee stage in the House of Lords, describing the step as potentially significant for road-transport operators.

The trade body says HGV, coach and van businesses commonly pay fuel, wages and tolls before receiving payment for completed work, and may then wait months for settlement. It says that can put pressure on cash flow where margins are low and costs are rising.

The RHA says the bill is expected to return at report stage when Parliament resumes in September. It says effective implementation and enforcement would be needed before the measures could improve operators’ financial resilience.

What this could mean for Wales

Road-transport businesses in Wales could be affected if the proposed UK-wide measures become law and are enforced as the RHA describes. The bill has not completed its parliamentary passage, and the RHA’s account does not set out the final rules or a Wales-specific outcome.