The Irish Road Hauliers' Association is advising its members to consider passing on the full increase in fuel prices announced in yesterday's budget to customers or risk going out of business.
The IRHA's President, Mr Eamonn Morrissey, added that his association was coming under increasing pressure from members to call for industrial action in the wake of the latest rise in duties, which added five cent to the price of a litre of petrol and diesel.
Mr Morrissey said the budget increase along with the 5 per cent rise in road tax announced in November and higher road toll charges announced by NTR are forcing hauliers out of business.
"A truck does less than two miles per litre," Mr Morrissey explained, which means yesterday's increase has substantially increased the operating cost of a heavy goods vehicle.
"This is totally unsustainable in our business and we are advising our members that they are no longer be expected to continue to absorb cost increases alone," Mr Morrissey said.
He warned that hauliers are not in business just to provide a loss-making service. "We must have an operating profit in order to enhance and progress our industry and the services we offer."