• MAN, Volvo/Renault, Daimler, Iveco and DAF have admitted fixing prices on trucks bought or leased between 1997 and 2011
• The Road Haulage Association is helping buyers and lessees seek compensation
• The average payout looks set to be at least £6,000 per truck

The five manufacturers – MAN, Volvo/Renault, Daimler, Iveco and DAF – account for 90% of haulage vehicles in Europe.

It was a whistleblower at MAN that revealed the cartel, which means the manufacturer escapes having to pay out its share of the €2.93bn fine levied by the EC even though admitted colluding with the other companies.

Now the Road Haulage Association (RHA) has announced it will seek compensation from all five manufacturers – as well as Scania, which is still under investigation by the EU – on behalf of truck operators that purchased or leased trucks between 1997 and 2011. The compensation claim is open to any company, firm or person.

The RHA will seek to reclaim the difference between what the trucks should have cost compared to the cartel prices, as well as for any other increases in the operators’ costs resulting from the cartel, such as fuel. It estimates this will exceed £6,000 on average per truck.

As the case is developed, it will be determined whether second-hand trucks and those purchased or leased after 2011 will also be eligible.