Government Reaches Agreement on Truck Toll
The Ministry of Transport informed the APA that the goal of the ÖVP/SPÖ/NEOS government to generate 42 million euros for the budget through the truck toll on highways and expressways has been achieved.
Truck Toll: Environmental Costs Will Be Charged
For freight carriers, this means that while they will have to bear additional costs for environmental impact in the coming year, the planned infrastructure surcharge will be eliminated. Detailed figures are to follow. "This will improve cost transparency in road traffic, enhance ecological steering effects, and ensure long-term financing of road infrastructure. At the same time, the transport industry gains more planning security in the transition to electric trucks," the Ministry of Transport announced on Wednesday afternoon.
Transport Minister Peter Hanke (SPÖ) emphasized: "The agreement not only offers a clear future perspective for the industry but also brings an important steering effect in terms of reducing CO2 emissions. From my point of view, given the good basis for discussion and constructive negotiations, an agreement could have been reached even before today's truck blockade in Vienna."
Freight Carrier Protest in Vienna Due to Truck Toll in the Morning
He is referring to today's protest by the hauliers in front of the Ministry of Transport. On Wednesday morning, a convoy of about 60 trucks drove in front of the Ministry of Transport in the third district of Vienna, loudly honking to express their anger over - at that time - possible toll increases. The unanimous sentiment was: If transport becomes more expensive, it will be costlier for consumers in the store.
"Our protest drive today with 63 trucks to the Ministry of Transport has shown effect," said Markus Fischer, chairman of the freight transport trade association in the Chamber of Commerce, after the government relented. However, the industry representative is calling for further relief, such as an end to the night-time 60 km/h limit.
The convoy led the "kings of the road" via the western entrance to 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. Parts of the ÖVP and the hauliers would have preferred an increase in the short-term vignette, meaning a cost increase for car owners and not for truck operators.
Hauliers: Truck tolls more expensive than fuel
For the 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 this year for a 40-tonne articulated truck in long-distance transport, and next year it could already be 91,930 euros. In comparison: In 2022, it was only 63,130 euros, according to the transporters' concerns.
(APA/Red)
This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.
