Latest news with #hauliers
Irish Times
21-07-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Times
Hauliers accuse RSA of moving driving testers off commercial vehicles
Hauliers have accused the Road Safety Authority (RSA) of moving driving testers from articulated truck, bus and truck testing to car testing in order to reduce wait times for car driving tests, causing waiting times for commercial driving tests to increase. The Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) has presented its claims in a letter to Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien and Minister of State at the Department of Transport Sean Canney. The group said waiting lists for car drivers fell by 10 per cent between April and June but that there was a significant increase in the wait times for truck (42 per cent) and articulated truck (40 per cent) tests over the same period. It said there was also a backlog for bus drivers. The RSA and the Department of Transport have been contacted for comment. READ MORE IRHA president Ger Hyland described the situation as 'a crisis in the making' for hauliers, and said the RSA came under 'intense political pressure' to move their testing resources from commercial testing into car testing, rather than expand their testing capabilities overall. The IRHA said the improvement in waiting times for car drivers and the increased backlog for commercial drivers coincided with a period during which Mr Canney met with RSA leadership and gave it a deadline to come up with proposals to improve driving test wait times. The group has now called for the driver testing system to be removed from the remit of the RSA. Mr Hyland accused the RSA of playing a 'dangerous game', describing it as 'effectively robbing Peter to pay Paul' at a time when the haulage sector is 'desperately short on drivers'. He said the delays were 'stifling economic growth' in rural Ireland by delaying the qualification of suitably qualified professional drivers who are 'desperately needed' to support small and medium sized businesses across the country. 'Young Irish drivers who need a license to drive a bus, truck or heavy goods vehicle (HGV) cannot get licenses because the RSA have all but stopped commercial testing to focus on car testing,' he said. 'They have pulled the wool over this Government's eyes and instead of dealing with the high demand for testing, they decided to simply move the deck chairs around the Titanic.' Mr Hyland claimed 'driving school owners' have told the group that commercial driving license testing in Ireland has 'all but stopped' over the past two months. 'That means no new bus drivers, truck drivers, HGV drivers,' he said. 'We have young Irish people who want to drive for a living but cannot get a license so we are forced to bring in drivers from South Africa instead whilst young Irish people are forced to move abroad and drive there – all because of the mismanagement of our testing system.' He said one HGV driving instructor in Kerry told the group he did not have a scheduled commercial driving test in the Tralee centre since May and wasn't expecting one until at least August. 'He told of the devastating impact this was having on his business and how he had young drivers waiting since January for a commercial driving test to try and get a job,' Mr Hyland added.
The Sun
29-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
Foreign lorry drivers forced to plaster vans with signs to deter migrants trying to sneak into soft touch Britain
FOREIGN lorries are being plastered with stickers saying they do not go to the UK — to deter migrants from trying to sneak on board. HGV drivers who operate only in Europe put up the notices to warn there is no chance of a free ride across the Channel. One truck in Latvia — 900 miles from Calais — was spotted with the black and yellow signs declaring: 'We don't go to UK.' The warning was repeated underneath in French, amid a rise in attempted illegal lorry crossings. Other Europe-only hauliers are also using the signs on their fleets. But some migrants still sneak on board, only to find themselves still in mainland Europe when they get off. A source said: 'The fact they have to tell migrants they aren't going to the UK shows exactly how in-demand Britain is as a destination. "They know the UK gives them the best treatment and will stop at nothing to come over.' Figures show there were 5,874 detections of illegal immigrants at ports on the continent, including Calais, Dunkirk and the Channel Tunnel in Coquelles. It is a rise of 22 per cent compared with 4,794 in 2023. While migrants crossing the Channel are easily recorded, lorry stowaways may reach the UK undetected. Many go on to obtain illegal cash-in-hand work or claim asylum and be housed in a hotel. The Sun watches as hundreds of illegal migrants arrive at Dover 2
Malay Mail
29-05-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Port Klang crunch: Transport minister rolls out off-peak incentives to ease haulage jams, curb crashes
PUTRAJAYA, May 29 — Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook today announced new incentives for hauliers who operate during off-peak hours at Port Klang. Loke said hauliers who enter Port Klang outside peak hours — between 8.00am and 8.00pm — will receive a cash incentive of RM15 for dual movements and RM7.50 for single movements. 'These incentives will be funded through a Terminal Access Charge (TAC) of RM10, which will be imposed on hauliers operating during peak hours,' he said in a press conference after chairing the National Logistics Task Force meeting at the Le Meridien hotel here. The off-peak incentive will not apply on Sundays and public holidays, and neither will the TAC be charged on those days. This initiative was approved at the meeting following growing concerns over the spike in road crashes involving heavy vehicles and worsening congestion at the country's busiest port. Loke said the incentives will be rolled out in stages, with a pilot project starting in August and full implementation expected next year. Loke said container handling at Port Klang increased by nine per cent in 2024, with a staggering 70 per cent of haulage activities taking place during peak hours. 'This has led to heavier traffic on roads surrounding the port, slowing down logistics operations and increasing the risk of crashes involving both commercial and passenger vehicles,' he said. In addition to the cash incentive, the ministry is also offering an additional free storage period for importers and exporters who shift at least 50 per cent of their haulier movements to off-peak hours on or before July 1. 'Those who fail to meet the 50:50 ratio between peak and off-peak movements risk losing this benefit,' Loke added. Last month, Loke said from July 1, his ministry will use port infrastructure at all federal ports in Peninsular Malaysia to boost checks on overloaded lorries, replacing limited roadside inspections.
Free Malaysia Today
29-05-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Hauliers entering Port Klang during off-peak hours to receive incentives
Transport minister Loke Siew Fook said the 9% growth in container handling at Port Klang in 2024 has driven a significant increase in goods vehicle traffic during peak hours. PETALING JAYA : Hauliers entering Port Klang during off-peak hours will receive incentives, funded by a terminal access charge (TAC) imposed on those entering during peak hours. Transport minister Loke Siew Fook said this was approved during the National Logistics Task Force (NLTF) meeting today in view of the recent increase in road accidents involving heavy vehicles. He said hauliers will receive a RM15 incentive for 'dual movements' (entering and exiting the port with full container loads) and RM7.50 for 'single movements' (entering with a laden container and exiting with an empty one). 'The cost of this incentive will be funded through a TAC of RM10 imposed on hauliers entering the port during peak hours from 8am to 8pm. 'The imposition of the TAC and provision of incentives will be exempted on Sundays and public holidays,' he said. According to federal traffic police, accidents involving lorries caused 1,457 deaths over the past six years. This year, 260 deaths have been recorded, the second highest in a single year after the 274 reported in 2019. Loke said the 9% growth in container handling at Port Klang in 2024 has driven a significant increase in goods vehicle traffic during peak hours, with 70% of haulage activity concentrated in this window. 'This surge has impacted logistics efficiency and placed added pressure on surrounding infrastructure,' he said. Loke also said the NLTF has approved an extension of the four-day free storage period for importers and exporters who shift at least 50% of their haulier movements from peak to off-peak hours on or before July 1. 'If the importer or exporter fails to collect or deliver containers to or from the port in a 50:50 ratio between peak and off-peak hours, the additional free storage period granted will be reduced,' he said.
