DAF, a major truck manufacturer, is accused by the Road Haulage Association (RHA) of deliberately delaying a £1bn compensation claim from 11,000 hauliers. This lawsuit follows a 2016 EU ruling that DAF, Volvo, MAN, and Iveco colluded on pricing and emission costs for 14 years. The RHA claims the delays, partly due to the Covid pandemic and legal tactics, have reduced claimant numbers by a third, denying justice to small family-run businesses.
DAF truck maker accused of ‘stringing out’ hauliers’ legal case for compensation
Automotive industryAutomotive emissionsEuropean UnionCorporate governanceVolvoManCouriers/delivery industryLawUKManufacturing sector
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️DAF, a major truck manufacturer, is accused by the Road Haulage Association (RHA) of deliberately delaying a £1bn compensation claim from 11,000 hauliers. This lawsuit follows a 2016 EU ruling that DAF, Volvo, MAN, and Iveco colluded on pricing and emission costs for 14 years. The RHA claims the delays, partly due to the Covid pandemic and legal tactics, have reduced claimant numbers by a third, denying justice to small family-run businesses.
Trending- 1 14 years (prior to 2016): Truck companies colluded on pricing.
- 2 2016: European Union fined truck companies about €3bn for colluding on pricing.
- 3 Seven years ago (from 2025): The RHA launched its initial £1bn compensation claim against the manufacturers.
- 4 2023: DAF won a two-year case examining if the RHA’s legal action could be financed by litigation funders.
- 5 Last year (from 2025): Royal Mail and BT were awarded approximately £17.5m in damages against DAF.
- 6 Currently (May 2025): DAF is accused of "stringing out" legal proceedings to deny justice to hauliers.
- Delays in compensation for 11,000 hauliers
- Reduction of claimant numbers by more than a third (6,000 claimants lost)
- Financial strain on small family-run businesses
- Royal Mail and BT awarded £17.5m in damages from DAF
What: DAF Trucks is accused of "stringing out" legal proceedings to delay compensation payments to approximately 11,000 truck hauliers in the UK.
When: Almost nine years after the 2016 EU ruling; seven years after RHA launched its initial claim; 2023 (DAF won a case regarding funding); last year (Royal Mail and BT awarded damages).
Where: UK, European Union.
Why: Manufacturers (including DAF) were found guilty by the EU of colluding for 14 years on pricing and passing on costs of emission compliance. DAF is accused of delaying to deny claimants money.
How: Through legal tactics, including stating intent to settle then backing away, and challenging litigation funding arrangements (which DAF won in 2023, leading to a rework of the funding deal).