Hauliers to meet over rising operation costs

Soaring insurance and fuel costs, which hauliers claim are putting many of their colleagues out of business, will be discussed at a meeting in Portlaoise this evening.

Hauliers say at least four operators a week are being forced out of the business as costs soar.

Mr Jimmy Quinn, spokesman for the 1,500-strong Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) said insurance increases of between 30 and 50 per cent were forcing transport operators to sell their vehicles and get out of the business.

A meeting with new Minister of State for Transport, Dr Jim McDaid, is planned for when the Government returns. Mr Quinn said hauliers are working with the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association (ISME) to try and implement the recommendations of the Motor Insurance Advisory Board (MIAB) report which was published in April.

This report found the Irish motor insurance industry is 10 times more profitable than its counterpart in the UK.

High legal costs and the length of time required to take a claim to court pushed up the costs of cover, the MIAB report showed.

The MIAB is now holding an inquiry into the cost of insuring commercial vehicles, the results of which will be passed to the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment, Ms Harney.

Mr Quinn said hauliers were pursuing a "partnership approach with the Government because large-scale protests quickly use up good will".

If a new representative body were set up for hauliers - as has been suggested - it would only fragment the message of their members, he said.