Jean-Marc Rivera, General Delegate of the Organization of European Road Carriers, reminds on franceinfo Wednesday that thee diesel “has taken a 50% increase” since the beginning of the year and that his profession could not “work at a loss”.
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“We are asking for a price freeze for road professionals and carriers”, indicates on franceinfo Wednesday March 9 Jean-Marc Rivera, general delegate of the Organization of European road transport operators (Otre), while fuel prices continue to rise and diesel begins to exceed SP95 because of the war in Ukraine and the economic sanctions decided against Russia. L’Otre sent a letter to Jean Castex to alert him to the situation.
franceinfo: What is the impact on road transport companies?
Jean-Marc Rivera: The situation is extremely critical for our businesses. Since January 1, it’s an additional 600 euros for 1,000 liters of diesel purchased. It’s a 50% increase. All this does not take into account the consequences of the American declarations [Joe Biden a annoncé la mise en place d’un embargo sur les importations américaines de gaz et de pétrole russe]. We should have the consequences very soon, tomorrow.
Will you leave the vehicles at the depot?
This is an alternative that will impose itself on our companies. We cannot work at a loss. All price offers are not acceptable and cause us to work at a loss. It is not possible. The road transport sector is mainly made up of VSEs-SMEs with less than 50 employees and they are unable to pass on all of these costs and the situation is extremely critical for them. Let’s not forget that they have been hard hit by the two years of health crisis. The situation is really very serious for our companies. The shortage of vehicles, which we did everything to avoid during the health crisis, we fear that it will occur if nothing is done to support companies.
What are you asking for as accompanying measures?
There are two types of measurements. Emergency measures to help businesses with cash flow, these measures may include exemption from payment of certain tax and social charges. There are also measures to stop this rise ahead of fuel. We are asking, for road professionals and carriers, to freeze fuel prices. We will not be able to absorb the announced increases. We are talking about a diesel fuel at 2.50 euros with relatively close prospects. And we must finally think about the implementation of a fuel for road professionals.