Truck Convoy: Hauliers Protested in Vienna
Some residents of Vorderen Zollamtsstraße in Vienna might have been reminded of the classic film "Convoy" on Wednesday morning: At 10:30, a truck convoy consisting of about 60 vehicles arrived in front of the Ministry of Transport in the third district of Vienna, honking loudly to express their anger over possible toll increases. The unanimous sentiment was: If transport becomes more expensive, it will be costlier for consumers in stores.
Truck Convoy to the Ministry of Transport in Vienna
The convoy led the "Kings of the Road" through the western entrance of Vienna and the Gürtel to the Ministry of Transport, where they arrived punctually - "Just in Time," as an industry representative noted - with a small police escort. Banners warned against further fueling inflation. "We all pay the price," was one of the messages.
Transport Minister Peter Hanke (SPÖ) was unaware of the protest, as he was attending the weekly cabinet meeting. The ministry stated that they were in "very intensive discussions" regarding the design of the truck toll for the year 2026. Strong words came from Tyrol. "Especially in a transit country like Tyrol, it is absolutely incomprehensible to discuss increasing the vignette for all car drivers while a reasonable proposal to increase the truck toll seems to be falling by the wayside," criticized the local Chamber of Labor President Erwin Zangerl.
The background to this is that parts of the ÖVP and the freight forwarders would prefer an increase in the short-term vignette, meaning a price increase for car owners and not for truck operators. Hanke has so far rejected this.
Truck Toll Brought 1.66 Billion Euros into State Budget
The truck toll brought 1.66 billion euros into the state budget last year. Now, hauliers fear that the government could collect an additional 180 million euros. This would mean that the costs for the toll would be significantly higher than the expenses for the diesel of the trucks, they criticize. The toll would amount to around 60 cents per kilometer, while the fuel costs are slightly under 30 cents.
For hauliers, the cost burden has increased by 27.5 percent over the past three years, recently calculated Alexander Klacska, chairman of the WKÖ federal division for transport and traffic. This includes vehicle-related costs, labor costs, financing costs, and administration. In addition to market cost increases, there has also been a significant rise in taxes and fees. The "cost driver state" collects an average of 80,680 euros for a 40-tonne articulated truck in long-distance transport this year, and next year it could already be 91,930 euros. For comparison: in 2022, it was only 63,130 euros, according to the transporters' concerns.
AK President Zangerl does not see a higher toll as a cost driver. On the Kufstein-Brenner route, the toll would be increased by five euros. This is "not a massive burden for households and businesses," said the black chamber of labor president. He advocated for "cost transparency in traffic."
The hauliers calculate differently. A further increase in the truck toll in 2026 would burden each household with an estimated additional 35 euros and, in some cases, lead to job losses in the industry.
(APA/Red)
This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.
