Hauliers meeting to discuss industry ‘crisis’

Hauliers from throughout Ireland are meeting in Portlaoise this evening to discuss ways to combat what they believe is a crisis in the industry.

Truckers say high insurance and fuel costs are forcing many small companies to leave the trade every week. Mick Flynn, one of the organisers of tonight’s meeting, said:

"Once again, we find ourselves the forgotten sector of Irish industry. We just cannot sustain these increases and we cannot remain in business indefinitely under the current regime of crippling insurance costs.

"We would like to see the insurance companies giving us a reasonable and believable explanation for the exorbitant costs because we don’t really believe that September 11th and fraudulent claims are the sole reason."