Hauliers: €400 Fuel Limit Unsustainable; We Want It Changed

Bratislava, 19 March (TASR) - The maximum limit of €400 per refuelling would fill less than 20 percent of a lorry's fuel tank in some cases, and it's therefore unsustainable for freight and bus transport, the Cesmad Slovakia association of road carriers posted on a social network on Thursday in response to the government's adoption of the regulation. According to the hauliers, the government should reconsider this measure and adjust it so that it doesn't jeopardise the functioning of the road transport sector. "For freight vehicles, the set limit is insufficient and unsustainable in practice. In many cases, refuelling amounts to less than 20 percent of the tank's capacity, which is absolutely insufficient for freight and bus transport," stressed the association, adding that the limit will force drivers engaged in international transport to refuel abroad. This will increase their operating costs, reduce competitiveness and shift part of the expenditures outside the Slovak economy. "The increased costs for carriers will inevitably be reflected in transport prices and, consequently, in the prices of goods. This impact will be felt not only by companies but also by retailers and, ultimately, by all citizens of Slovakia," warned the carriers. am/df