Further rises have been proposed for 2009 and 2010. Many of the FPB's members are concerned that the soaring price of fuel is damaging their businesses, adding to supply and delivery costs, and particularly impacting smaller couriers and haulage firms.

"We are desperate and the Government must realise that," said Bill Hockin, of William C Hockin Transport Ltd in Devon. "This is the perfect storm, with foreign competition from European hauliers, who pay less tax than us in the UK, and rising fuel costs. If this situation continues, it will cripple us, if not ruin us."

He added: "The Government has got to get to grips with this situation before it spirals beyond our control. There is only so long I can ask my customers to pay more, before they will turn away. I have been in business for 40 years and this year is by far the worst I have ever known."

With small firms already struggling to pay, the FPB believes that the Government's plan to increase fuel duty amounts to another reckless tax, showing it to be out of touch with the UK's small-business community.

"The FPB is happy to throw its full support behind the FTA‘s protests against rising fuel costs and the refusal of the Government to scrap the 2p rise in fuel duty," said the FPB's Chief Executive, Phil Orford. "Small firms need help now, given the deteriorating economic climate, and the call for this unfair tax rise to be scrapped should be shouted from the rooftops."

While the postponement from April until October of the 2p rise in fuel duty was welcome news, the Government seems determined to push ahead with this unpopular additional tax.

In a statement, the FTA's External Affairs Director, Geoff Dossetter, said that fuel now constituted 40% of most firms' vehicle operating costs.

"The Government has failed to demonstrate that it has understood the serious impact of oil price rises to UK industry and has so far shown no interest in tackling the problem. The movement of people, and the delivery goods and services, are key factors in the economy and in the daily needs of the whole population," said Mr Dossetter. "The price of oil is dramatically changing these processes to the detriment of all, seemingly without any concern from the Government, which has done nothing to help except to postpone its proposed 2p-per-litre duty increase from April until October.

He added: "It seems to lack any appreciation of the scale and depth of the difficulties, and appears bereft of any overall strategy on the vital supply and price of petrol and diesel. The Government's insensitivity and continued failure to deal with these problems is unacceptable and must be corrected without delay."