The transport and haulage sector is a vital part of the Irish economy must be adequately supported through the current cost crisis.
That's the call from local haulers following a nationwide increase in the cost of fuel, tyres and wages over the last year.
Cabinet yesterday approved a new 18 million euro scheme for transport companies, which will see them receive a direct cash-payment per lorry to help with the cost of fuel.
Tony Quinn from Quinn Transport says that in the last year diesel has gone up 40 percent, green diesel is up 67 percent, with even the cost of tyres growing over 30 percent.
Speaking to Let's Talk, the Athlone Business owner says the sector will need more than the government's new support scheme to survive:
We've got some help from the government but we're on our knees at the moment.
Everyone finds some excuse to raise up their prices, but we're at the end of it, we're in the cold face of it.
We are the ones who suffer at the end of the day.
Even wages have gone up over the last three years, up over 25 percent as its hard to get drivers and hold onto them.
