Spiralling insurance costs are resulting in job losses and putting hauliers’ businesses "in serious danger", the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) said today.
According to the IRHA, since January, high insurance costs have meant the closure of haulage firms across the country, including Con Transport Ltd, which closed last weekend with the loss of over 80 jobs.
Mr Gerry McMahon of the IRHA said that in the last two years the industry has experienced a series of "vicious escalating increases in insurance costs which are unsustainable".
He accused the Government of failing to respond to hauliers' calls for urgent action, saying the government has "washed its hands of any responsibility".
Mr McMahon said the IRHA plans to ballot its members shortly to decide on further action.