Operators in the UK are not the only ones taking to the roads to protest about the rocketing cost of fuel. MT rounds up the action taking place across the Continent:
The Spanish truck drivers' indefinite strike, which began on 7 June and involved thousands of drivers, has been suspended for now by three of Spain's road haulage associations, leaving just one trade body still on strike. Last week, Spain's government signed a deal with non-striking hauliers (representing 88%
of the industry) on tax relief and other measures to ease the impact of rising fuel costs, but has refused to set up a minimum guaranteed rate for haulage services.
Hundreds of French truckers disrupted traffic with go-slow road convoys across France on Monday (16 June) in a protest called by the three main transport unions. This is just the latest in a long line of protests. The French government has proposed some relief, including the possibility of staggered tax and social payments for trucking companies, or some fuel tax relief, but it has rejected demands for a Europe-wide fixed price for diesel for professional users.
Irish truckers are to vote this week on whether to launch blockades of national roads. The Irish Road Haulage Association has warned government and Irish business leaders that fuel surcharges and a crackdown on cowboy operators are now crucial to avoiding chaos within the industry.
A group of Welsh
hauliers, led by Mike Greene, owner of M&M Greene Haulage in Dyfed, have commenced a protest at two oil refineries in west Wales. Around 65 lorries arrived at the sites on Sunday night and as MT went to press, around 20 vehicles were still taking part. At the weekend, more than 100 trucks took part in a go-slow on the M6, travelling from the Lymm truckstop to Carnforth truckstop and back again at 40mph.
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