Hauliers threaten militant action over 'rogue' firms

The Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) has threatened "militant action" if the Minister of State for Transport, Mr Jim McDaid, fails to clamp down on illegal haulage operations.

In his address to the association's annual conference tonight, IRHA president Mr Sean Delaney will tell delegates that "rogue operators" working outside the law were being tolerated by Mr McDaid, the Minister with responsibility for haulage, and that legislation introduced two years ago to stop illegal haulage was being ignored.

"Illegal haulage is worse today than it ever was. Where is the enforcement of the laws that are supposed to ensure a professional and effective road haulage service to Irish consumers?"

Operators were breaking the law by using farm diesel in trucks, operating without a licence, engaging in PAYE, VAT and PRSI fraud and establishing "phoenix companies" - changing the names of their haulage businesses to evade their legal responsibilities.

Seventy complaints relating to illegal haulage have been registered with the Department of Transport by the IRHA, according to Mr Delaney, but there seemed to be no impetus for enforcement.

"My management team and I have worked hard over the past two years, meeting with departments, the gardaí and other bodies to improve the haulage industry.

"But we are still waiting for the promises made by the Government to be implemented."

Legislation aimed at stopping shippers and other contractors from overloading trucks was also being flouted.

"Does the Minister and his Department want us to take more militant action before they do something? I can assure the Minister that the mood on the ground is for more militant action."

Mr McDaid is due to address the conference tomorrow night.