From the Welsh “Daily Post” - some comments from the owner of a small haulage company:

'The hauliers protested that more than 75% of the cost of fuel in the UK went in duty.
Dai Owen, who has been in the haulage industry since 1958, said he used to run 18 trucks on the Continent.
But he said cheaper foreign competition had hit his business.
"They have cheaper fuel, cheaper insurance, cheaper vehicles and use Bulgarian drivers for £40-a-week. We can't compete," he said.'

When I'm driving at speed past a long line of these eastern European trucks I have the odd worry as to whether their roadworthyness checks are as rigorous as ours. Dunno, they probably are, but I do wonder...