Archive for the ‘International News’ Category

Fuel Duty in Europe has Trucking Companies concerned

Friday, October 8th, 2010

Europe has always had higher fuel costs than in the United States. When they are concerned with the rising overhead cost of fuel while driving a truck, it is serious. There is concern for more trucking companies to close doors because the cost of fuel from a tax hike is pushing them out of business.

Simon Chapman, the Freight Transport Association chief economist, stated:

“Successive, above inflation tax hikes since 2009 mean the freight industry is shouldering a disproportionate burden,” he explained. “Many businesses hit hard by the recent recession will feel like they are on borrowed time.”

Simon feels that the freight industry was unjustifiably hit to hard and the economy will be hurt even worse.

The article, “Misery for the motorist as fuel costs rise again” on PressandJournal.co.uk, had concerns that the high fuel costs will hinder the economic growth that is needed right now to bring Europe back up to a more balanced financial era.

There was another article about the same concerns. ChoiceQuote.co.uk published an article also about the rise in fuel prices called “FTA: Fuel duty increases ill damage businesses”. The article feels that with the government increasing the fuel duty, this tax hike will hinder instead of help the economy.

All the articles have the same concern and that is that with the new tax hike, beginning on October 1, of this year, Truck Driving Companies in the freight industry are hit with an unfair burden that other industries do not have. They have the higher cost of fuel because of taxes. The outcome of higher costs mean small companies already at the brink of financial failure will surely fail at this time.

http://www.thefuelcardpeople.co.uk/fuelnews/800093921/Business%20fuel%20card/Fuel%20card%20news:%20Hauliers

http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1943281

http://www.choicequote.co.uk/news/haulage/haulage_fta-fuel-duty-increases-will-damage-businesses.asp

Strike in Greece Ends for Truck Drivers

Thursday, August 19th, 2010

Here is a little news on the economy in Europe. This is a little more specific to truck drivers in Greece.

Reported by the Wall Street Journal, it’s good news for Greece. Their truck drivers are ending the strike against their Government. The truck drivers are angry with Greece’s idea of issuing more licenses for trucks which would flood the market with competition and thus giving less business to each truck driver. The strike was ended when the Truck Driver’s union, the Federation of Overland Commercial Transporters, voted to end the strike.

Federation President Giorgos Tzortzatos was quoted as saying: “We have made our decision with a sense of responsibility and taking into account the problems the strike action has caused,” The government of Greece responded with the response: “The transport market will open, this reform is necessary for the economy and the citizens and for that reason the legislation will go forward,” Greece has had a huge fuel shortage during tourist season because of this strike. Starting July 25th, this mired the countries image even more than it had with its bad state of economy. The Greek economy has affected everyone in their economy including Truck Drivers.

We here in the United States don’t have the worries that they do. Yes, we are struggling with our own financial woes, but we still have more food on the table than most countries. We have companies here that train drivers who have never driven before and immediately hire them upon graduation with high safety records. We also have truck-driving companies here that compete for the freight and win upon best quality and price. No economic system is perfect, but we here in the United States have more financial opportunity than our neighbors in other countries who are struggling in this first decade of the 21st Century.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704702304575403312114219860.html?mod=googlenews_wsj