Hauliers threaten industrial action

ROAD hauliers have warned of industrial action over controversial plans by the government to place a limit on the height of lorries operating in Ireland.

The Irish Road Hauliers Association has reacted angrily to recent plans announced by Transport Minister, Martin Cullen, to introduce a ban on so-called super trucks.

IRHA spokesperson, Jimmy Quinn, said there was a real risk of blockades to ports unless the government was willing to reconsider.

"The minister is trying to get us to abandon a standard that we have lived with for 25 years," said Mr Quinn.

He claimed such a height restriction would push up the cost of goods and services for all consumers as transport companies would be forced to pass on increased freight costs.

"Taxpayers will be forced to pick up the price if a haulier has to replace a "supercube" truck with two or more vehicles to collect the same load," said Mr Quinn.

Truck drivers are also annoyed at the level of tolls which they will face by being forced to use the M50 once the Dublin Port Tunnel opens later this year.

The IRHA is also concerned at proposals by Dublin City Council to ban heavy goods vehicles from the city centre area.

Although the IRHA supports measures to ban HGVs, in transit to and from Dublin port, from driving along the city's quays, it claims the measure will also affect some vehicles making deliveries to businesses in the city centre.

Mr Cullen said the exact height limit was still to be determined. However, he predicted it would be somewhere between 4.5m and 4.65m the height limit for vehicles using the Dublin Port Tunnel, which is also the standard height of "supercube" trucks.