The Road Haulage Association (RHA) has initiated a class action against several truck manufacturers, accusing them of forming a cartel to fix the prices of vehicles sold to end users.
This legal move could potentially lead to a £2bn ($2.48bn) compensation claim for affected hauliers, MotorTrader.com reported.
UK hauliers have until 14 February to register for the class action, which is being brought before the UK’s Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT).
The CAT has authorised the RHA to represent the industry in seeking compensation for the alleged losses incurred due to the manufacturers’ unlawful conduct.
The class action is an “opt-in” lawsuit, which requires eligible parties to actively register to be considered for any future compensation.
The final deadline to complete this opt-in process is set for 28 February.
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RHA managing director Richard Smith said: “We urge those who are eligible to opt into the legal action so that they can access compensation if it is awarded by the tribunal.
“The RHA is dedicated to the interests of the road haulage sector, and we are proud to be bringing this claim to secure compensation for companies and individuals and to deter cartelist behaviour and poor corporate governance in our industry.”
Eligibility for the class action includes companies and individuals who purchased or leased new and used trucks weighing six tonnes or more, registered in the UK between 17 January 1997 and 31 January 2014 for new trucks.
For used trucks, eligibility extends to those registered between 17 January 1997 and 31 January 2015.
Furthermore, personal representatives of deceased individuals who fall within the class and passed away on or after 17 July 2018 are also permitted to opt in.
The lawsuit targets several companies within the Man, DAF, and Iveco groups, but it encompasses all truck makes, not just those produced by the named manufacturers.
This action follows allegations of a long-running price-fixing arrangement among major truck producers.
