90,000 Spanish lorry drivers hit the breaks

More than 200 Spanish lorry drivers ground traffic on the borders with France to a halt last night, as they parked their lorries next to the toll booths and proceeded to stop other lorries from passing, in protest to the 20% rise in the price of diesel fuel.

The tens of thousands of lorry drivers on strike are mostly self employed or work from small companies, and they all face the same problem with the soaring price of diesel. Bankruptcy.

The hauliers have found support from others in their trade in France and Portugal. These strikes are threatening the arrival of goods to supermarkets and fuel all over Spain. Since May, protests by lorry drivers, fishermen and taxi drivers in 7 European countries have been reported by the BBC, and if fuel prices do not decrease it could spell many more mass protests throughout Europe.

The soaring diesel prices are due, to a great extent, to the 15% minimum VAT imposed on the fuel. However, the EU has stated that it will avoid cutting fuel taxes in order to deal with the high prices, and instead recommends that national solutions be found in each member state dealing with the problem.

Perhaps it is time to focus on more fuel efficient haulage and fishing vehicles and subsidise the purchase of such vehicles, a trend that should be followed by every company worldwide, as it makes long term financial sense and improves companies’ image as regards to the environment.