Road hauliers seek imposition of fuel surcharge
Road hauliers have said they can "can no longer guarantee the provision of professional and reliable transport services" without the introduction of a fuel surcharge to offset rising fuel costs.
The Irish Road Haulage Association, which represents over 1,000 haulage companies nationwide, said this morning that it has written to the Irish Exporters Association, the Irish International Freight Association, IBEC, and ISME, to outline its position on the matter.
The association said it has requested all of the organisations to whom it has written to ensure that their respective members engage with their transport providers on the question of introducing a fuel surcharge together with a mechanism for applying it.
“Our members are finding it increasingly difficult to offset the high cost of fuel and can not afford to wait for consignors to come round to accepting the seriousness of this issue. They need action right now,” said association president Vincent Caulfield.
“This is a formal request and we believe that it presents the basis for negotiations aimed at maintaining price competitiveness and protecting Ireland’s export business.
"The haulage industry can not be expected to bear these ever increasing fuel costs alone,” said Mr Caulfield.
The Association said that escalating fuel costs had placed a heavy financial burden on the haulage companies that it represents and that the majority of its members were struggling to survive with the cost of fuel now accounting for up to 50% of their annual operational costs.
“The 2c per litre Budget increase in the price of diesel has increased the annual cost of keeping just one truck on the road by as much as €3,000," Mr Caulfield added.
"When you factor in the carbon tax the price of diesel rose by 18c per litre, or by the equivalent of 17%, alone during 2010,” Mr. Caulfield continued.
