The Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) has warned of a possible withdrawal of service by its members in protest at recent sharp increases in the cost of fuel and insurance.
Announcing plans to stage a "day of action" on April 1st, the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) has called on the Government to provide support for the industry as it faces into "a crisis of excessive costs."
Mr Jimmy Quinn, spokesman for the IRHA, told ireland.comits members had "borne the brunt" of a 30 per cent increase in fuel prices over the last six months. The association has warned that the introduction of a fuel surcharge will be necessary to compensate for increases in operational costs as many companies "cannot continue to absorb these increases in fuel prices alone."
Two major hauliers have collapsed in the last two weeks due to the increase in costs. The IRHA fears that more of its members will go out of business unless the Government and Irish industry take action and has advised its members to "urgently talk with customers about their dilemma".
Mr Quinn said hauliers had tried to negotiate with their customers to discuss rate increases and that some customers had agreed. However, IRHA members may withdraw their services from customers who had not engaged in a "meaningful" way, he said.
Mr Quinn said unless the industry, which employs some 10,000 people, receives "moral and practical assistance from this Government, we will be staging a day of action across the country as the costs are now out of control".