The Road Haulage Association says the reduction is largely a consequence of the time taken to bring the case forward. Some participating businesses have since closed, while individual claimants have died during a process that began almost a decade ago.
The RHA launched its claim in 2017 after European competition authorities found that major truck manufacturers had colluded over truck pricing and the introduction of emissions technologies.
In an update published on 13 July, RHA managing director Richard Smith said the association had not expected the case to take so long. He accused the defendant manufacturers of using tactics intended to delay proceedings and increase costs.
Despite the lengthy process, the RHA maintains that the claim remains in a strong position. It has secured a Collective Proceedings Order from the Competition Appeal Tribunal, allowing it to pursue the action collectively on behalf of participating operators.
However, only around 11,000 class members remain, compared with the 17,500 businesses and individuals that registered an interest between the launch of the case and the opening of the formal opt-in period.
Fewer trucks could affect final payouts
The declining number of participating trucks could also influence the economics of the claim. According to the RHA, fewer vehicles mean a smaller overall damages pool. Fixed costs, including the fee charged by the litigation funder financing the action, could consequently account for a greater proportion of any compensation recovered.
That does not necessarily mean individual operators will receive less compensation for each affected truck. The final amounts would depend on the outcome of the proceedings, the losses established and the way any damages or settlement are distributed.
The RHA said it would continue pursuing what it considers the best possible outcome for the industry. It is preparing to spend “the next couple of years” getting ready for trial unless an acceptable resolution is reached with the manufacturers beforehand.
The Competition Appeal Tribunal formally granted the RHA’s Collective Proceedings Order in August 2024. The order was subsequently amended on 21 April 2026, while the RHA remains authorised to act as the class representative in the opt-in proceedings.
The underlying cartel involved MAN, Volvo/Renault, Daimler, Iveco and DAF, with Scania dealt with under a separate European Commission decision. Authorities found that the manufacturers had coordinated gross prices and price increases for medium and heavy trucks, as well as the timing and passing on of costs associated with Euro 3 to Euro 6 emissions technologies.
The conduct covered the period from January 1997 to January 2011.
