PARIS – French road transport companies will begin protest action on 21 October in response to sharply rising fuel prices. The Organisation des Transporteurs Routiers Européens (OTRE) and the Fédération des Autocaristes Indépendants (FAI) announced on Thursday that the first mobilisation will take place in Paris. Details of the planned actions will be announced at a later date.
The organisations represent companies operating in both road freight and passenger transport. According to OTRE and FAI, fuel represents a major expense for transport operators and rising prices are putting increasing pressure on their finances.
Transport companies are also finding it extremely difficult to pass the full increase in fuel costs on to their customers.
“This situation can no longer continue,” the organisations said.
Four demands to the French government
OTRE and FAI have set out four priority demands. First, they are calling on the French government to take measures to reduce fuel prices at the pump. They point to measures already introduced in other European countries to lower fuel costs.
The organisations also want stronger rules to ensure that higher fuel costs can be passed on to customers.
For road freight transport, the government should immediately simplify the fuel indexation mechanism by introducing a single binding reference based on indicators and calculation methods from the French Comité national routier.
According to OTRE and FAI, this mechanism should also be extended to private contracts in road passenger transport. For public contracts, price adjustment clauses should allow major fluctuations in fuel costs during a crisis to be passed on as accurately as possible.
Transport rates must increase
The organisations are also demanding an immediate reassessment of transport rates.
Until a single binding indexation system has been introduced, transport prices should be increased without delay so that companies can cover their costs, maintain sufficient margins and continue making the investments needed for their future.
At the same time, both private and public-sector customers should accept the full pass-through of increases in fuel costs.
As a fourth demand, OTRE and FAI want road transport operators to be included in government support measures again.
‘Transport operators cannot continue absorbing increases’
“Transport operators cannot continue indefinitely absorbing increases in fuel prices. They are asking for transport rates that cover their costs and allow them to invest,” OTRE and FAI said.
According to the organisations, transport companies have also been calling for months for a stronger mechanism to index changes in energy prices and ensure that fuel price increases can be passed on fairly and in full.
“These measures would cost public finances nothing. Yet transport operators are still not being heard. The ball is now in the government’s court,” the organisations said.
Protests to start in Paris
The mobilisation will begin in Paris on 21 October. The announcement indicates that actions may continue beyond that date.
OTRE and FAI have not yet announced what form the protests will take or where any subsequent actions will be held. Further details of the mobilisation will be announced shortly.
