FTA Ireland partners Diesel Card Ireland

FTA Ireland is delighted to be partnering Diesel Card Ireland (DCI) for the provision of a fuel card for its growing membership. Launched at the FTAI Transport Manager conference held in Enfield, County Meath, the Association has praised the work of DCI, saying that it has established itself as one of Ireland’s and the UK’s leading independent fuel card management companies.

Held for the third consecutive year, the FTAI Transport Manager Ireland conference focused on ensuring transport managers received all the information, guidance and best practice advice that they require on forthcoming legislation and enforcement changes.

Aidan Flynn, FTA Ireland General Manager - Business Services, said: “FTA Ireland is delighted to be partnering DCI, as it has recognised the broad membership base of our Association and has agreed to work with our members in providing the most competitive fuel card in Ireland. In this environment it is important to all freight operators that a fuel card delivers in a number of ways, including competitive pricing, and we are confident that our members will ultimately be the beneficiaries of this.”

'Unfair that Irish Freight operators pay UK road levy'

The Freight Transport Association Ireland (FTAI) is concerned that the main freight artery from Donegal to the Republic of Ireland is now subject to payment of the UK Road Levy.

The FTAI says Irish hauliers should be exempt from paying the HGV Road User Levy for use of the A5, and added that it is unsatisfactory that traffic from the Republic transiting Norther Ireland on this roadway should be subject to the charge.

FTAI want N.I. political parties standing in the UK general election 2015, and those intending to stand for election in the Dail in 2016, to clarify their position on this matter, and asked that they outline their reply to the points raised.

The Irish Exchequer recognises the importance of the A5 as a transit route for Irish hauliers, and Donegal bound freight, and has paid the UK €50m for the upgrade of the road. In addition, Donegal residents have also expressed their dissatisfaction at the UK Levy being introduced on the vital route.

The HGV Road User Levy came into effect on 1 April 2014, in UK law, and has resulted in an increase of costs for HGV operators from Ireland using roads in Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

FTAI calls for HGV road levy exemption for Irish hauliers

The Freight Transport Association Ireland (FTAI) Ireland believes the UK Government should grant Irish hauliers an exemption from the HGV Road User Levy for use on the A5 for HGVs transiting Northern Ireland, and has asked for the active support of the Minister for Transport, and the Oireachtas, in delivering this exemption.

The HGV Road User Levy which became effective 1st April 2014 in UK law, will result in a net increase in costs for HGV operators from Ireland using roads in NI and Great Britain, according to FTA Ireland's General Manager Neil McDonnell.

Mr McDonnell added "With Irish taxpayers about to pour £50m into the A5 transit route from next year, it defies logic and fairness for the UK Government to ask Irish operators to pay a levy for using this transit route. The N2/A5 is a vital part of the road infrastructure for hauliers in the north-west, as a great many businesses in Donegal are totally dependent on the route for access to air freight and continental sea freight from Ireland."

Low Carbon Roadmap is good news - FTA Ireland

The Department of Transport Tourism and Sports has launched a public consultation on carbon reduction in the transport sector.

The Minister of State for Public and Commuter Transport, Alan Kelly TD, announced the public consultation process on the preparation of a Low Carbon Roadmap for the Transport Sector which is said to be in anticipation of obligations proposed under the Climate Change Action and Low Carbon Bill. The consultation will seek the views of the public to develop Irish Transport's low carbon roadmap to 2050.

The move has been welcomed by the Freight Transport Association Ireland (FTAI). Neil McDonnell, FTA Ireland General Manager said "We are delighted at the DTTAS announcement as FTA Ireland has been actively assisting its members to reduce their carbon footprint since 2010, when we introduced our Logistics Carbon Reduction Scheme." He said FTA Ireland will be making a submission to the consultation, and in 2014 will intensify efforts to help reduce carbon emissions in the transport sector.

He said a radical shift in transport patterns, fuel consumption and behavioural change will be required over the period to 2050.

FTA Ireland encourages all its members to participate in the LCRS as it helps reduce the production of greenhouse gases (GHGs), and FTA Ireland and its partners in Enprova can secure capital incentives for members who do so. The FTAI accreditation scheme also recognises the efforts of those companies which institute reductions in their production of GHGs.

FTAI covers all aspects of the freight, passenger transport and logistics supply chain, including road, rail, sea, air, port, airport and public service transport interests.

€45.5m less for road maintenance is a mistake

“Proper road maintenance is essential” was the response of the Freight Transport Association Ireland (FTAI) to the news of €46.5million cut to road maintenance.

FTA Ireland said to continue cuts will result in a progressive deterioration in the condition of the road network, higher maintenance costs for commercial and private road users, and ultimately lead to higher costs to remedy road damage.

The cuts were revealed yesterday within the Irish Government’s 2014 Budget, which was billed as the final austerity budget in Ireland, when the reduction in the provision for road maintenance was announced.

Neil Mc Donnell – FTA Ireland General Manager said: “FTA Ireland believes that cutting funds for road maintenance is a costly mistake. It will inevitably have an effect on all road users, and as most of Ireland’s freight is delivered by road will undoubtedly impact the freight industry and the way it operates. Long term remediation costs will exceed the savings from these short term measures.”

FTA insist funding is spent on trade routes

While the €50 million road repair fund for Local Authorities to repair regional and local road surfaces announced this week by Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport is good news says FTA Ireland, they insist essential trade routes must be at the top of the list, writes Trish Whelan.

The Freight Transport Association Ireland (FTAI) is calling on the Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport not to ignore essential trade routes when it comes to allocating funds for road repairs.

They are asking that no political pressure be made to repair roads in certain constituencies. They are also worried that the funding will be based on length of road in their respective counties rather than traffic volume and want priority to be given to the repair of essential roads and trade routes which 'lie at the heart of the economy across the Republic of Ireland'.

Declan McKeon, FTAI Head of Policy here says: "The funding is very much welcome for all road users, but in particular the freight industry, as it will not only help road safety but also benefit freight operators who are holding on to their fleets longer, and promote the upkeep and maintenance of their vehicles."