Fuel Prices: Truck Drivers Call for Help and Threaten to Block Paris

Faced with delays in payment of promised aid, several road transport organisations announced on Thursday the preparation of a mobilisation from the 21st October. They are also demanding new measures from the government

The rise of fuel prices and delays in paying aid are putting Truck drivers and haulage companies under pressure. On Thursday, the Organisation of European Road Transporters (OTRE) and the Federation of Independent Coach Operators (FAI) called on their members to mobilize in Paris on the 21st October and the following days.

OTRE, the third largest organization in the sector with some 3,600 companies representing 110,000 employees, had consulted its members the previous week. “It is an assumed choice because our demands relate to political power and it is in Paris”, explained its deputy general director, Jean-Marc Rivera.

Truck drivers excluded from aid for heavy drivers

At the centre of the demands are the deadlines for payment of the exceptional aid promised in the face of the surge in fuel prices. According to the office of minister of Transport, 80% of companies that requested April aid received it, compared to only 16% for May aid. For aid covering June to August, the decree was only published on the 23rd September. Applications can be submitted until the 9th November and payments will not be made until after that date.

Professionals also contest their exclusion from the scheme ‘help for heavy drivers’, extended and expanded on the 22nd September. Transport companies cannot benefit from it since they are not authorised to combine this system with exceptional aid.

“Despair is spreading to businesses”

The National Road Transport Federation (FNTR), the leading organization in the sector, has not yet decided to join the movement. While “despair is spreading among businesses”, she asks in particular to “strengthen the indexation of energy costs”, which makes it possible to pass on the evolution of fuel prices in tariffs. The Ministry of Transport is working on a reform of this mechanism.

The FNTR also calls for “a significant and temporary reduction in taxes on professional fuels throughout the duration of the crisis” and could mobilize without response by mid-October. On Friday, the French Bodywork Federation (FFC) and Solutrans also launched a “solemn appeal to the State” to obtain emergency measures.