Rising fuel prices prompt hauliers to consider surcharge for customers

A FUEL surcharge that could be passed on to customers was one of the items up for discussion at a crisis meeting of the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) in Cork last night.

The group said it is facing serious problems as a result of soaring fuel costs and said there is an urgent need for its customers to engage in consultation with them.

The representative body for the country’s hauliers said it faces a bleak future unless issues can be resolved.

IRHA national president, Jimmy Quinn said hauliers are facing a bloodbath and issued a warning that unless things change, customers could find themselves without hauliers on Monday June 30.

Mr Quinn also said some hauliers had to give up work in the last few months as they were struggling to sustain rising costs.

“There’s widespread frustration at the moment over the cost of fuel and we decided to hold this meeting so that members could vent their frustration.

“There is a clear failure from customers to engage with hauliers,” he said.

Mr Quinn did not rule out the introduction of a fuel surcharge that hauliers could put to their customers but added that this would prove difficult given customers’ reluctance to engage in proper dialogue.

“We are in for a bleak future if things don’t change soon,” he added.

He also said there is a need for the Government to look at how road fuel is taxed.

The IRHA is holding another meeting in Portlaoise next week but has no plans for other meetings thereafter.