Crisis Looms As Hauliers Vote To Withdraw Services

Hauliers attending this weekend’s Annual Conference of the Irish Road Haulage Association will vote on a motion to withdraw their services nationwide in protest at the Government’s failure to address the impact of rising fuel costs on their business.

Delegates representing over 1,000 haulage companies throughout the country will also debate and vote on a motion to withhold VAT and PRSI payments until the Government responds to its call to introduce a fuel duty rebate.

Hundreds of hauliers representing the Association’s ten branches throughout the country are expected to express their growing anger when they gather at the Annual Conference which takes place at the Strand Hotel in Limerick on Saturday, April 9th.

Vincent Caulfield, President, Irish Road Haulage Association said: “Rising fuel costs are crippling haulage companies. The anger amongst delegates has been intensified by the new Government’s failure to engage on the issue or to recognise their role in guaranteeing the provision of professional and reliable transport services.

He added: “The haulage industry contributed over €1 billion to the Irish Exchequer in 2010 and the sector employs over 50,000 people. Rising fuel costs forced over 250 haulage companies to fail or cease trading in 2010 and almost as many are currently on the brink of closure.”

The Association revealed that the fuel prices have risen from €0.90 to €1.20 per litre over the past 18 months. This has increased the running cost of one HGV vehicle burning 1,000 litres of fuel per week by as much as €300 per week or €15,000 per annum. The vast majority of hauliers have been unable to agree fuel surcharges to off-set these cost increases.

“Our members can not absorb cost increases or taxes of this magnitude when business continues to evaporate said Mr. Caulfield.

The Association has sought meetings with Transport Minister Leo Varadkar and Finance Minister Michael Noonan. It is calling on the new Government to introduce a fuel duty rebate for tax compliant hauliers and to permit licensed freight carriers to charge a carbon tax on services in the same way as VAT.

(BMcN/GK)