The chair of the transport select committee, MP Louise Ellman, has advised industry leaders that they need to be more positive in putting forward their views to Parliament. Freight and logistics contribute more than £74 bn to the UK economy, but public awareness of the industry is very low. This means that policy makers are slow to take account of the freight and haulage industry’s views – Members of Parliament are influenced by public opinion when making policy, and the public is unaware of the huge contribution which logistics and freight makes to the economy. The Road Haulage Association intents to target MP’s who are likely to be influential in this area.