Hauliers could run out of road as their industry is in crisis

The surge in fuel prices which saw the average cost of a litre of diesel top €1.60 is likely to represent a tipping point for many road users, especially in the haulage industry.

The latest price change represents an annual increase of 11.5% in the cost of diesel over the past 12 months and a 53% increase since Aug 2009 when a litre of diesel averaged €1.04.

Against such a background, the announcement by Target Express that it had ceased trading with the expected loss of almost 400 jobs came as no major surprise to those working in the haulage trade.