The Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) held its annual conference in Galway over the weekend and called on government to engage with the sector across a number of key areas.
IRHA President Ger Hyland said the haulage industry was in crisis, and called for urgent intervention to assist the sector.
Mr Hyland speaking to RTE warned of a severe driver shortage, which he claimed could impact on the supply of goods across the country in the weeks leading to Christmas.
Hesaid that 98 per cent of freight in Ireland is transported by road and without drivers there would be knock on consequences through out the supply chain.
He warned that higher prices, delayed deliveries and a wider lack of certainty are all on the cards, if measures to recruit hundreds of new drivers are not fast-tracked.
The association estimates that an additional 4,000 heavy goods vehicle (HGV) drivers need to be recruited over the next five years, to ensure an adequate provision of services.
The Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) is calling for a root and branch examination of the regulations that are preventing hauliers from recruiting HGV drivers and mechanics from overseas.
Mr Hyland said that urgent government reforms are needed to address red tape in bringing in drivers and mechanics from overseas.
Hyland said: “The State is imposing different obligations and requirements on licensed hauliers seeking to engage drivers and mechanics from outside Ireland to fill the skills shortage.”
He added: “There is chronic bureaucracy at government department level that is making hiring drivers from abroad almost impossible.”
“As the system is currently operating, there is a complete mismatch between the operation of the licensing exchange programme operated by the Department of Transport/Road Safety Authority, the visa requirements operated by the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Employment Permit Schemes being operated by the Department of Enterprise.”
“Each of these entities apply differing rules, requirements and timescales which are not joined up or operated effectively. Bringing in drivers from abroad can take over a year.”
He concluded: “We would prefer to hire Irish drivers but at this stage, we will take any qualified driver we can get!. It seems wrong that young Irish drivers are moving to Australia and Canada to drive their trucks whilst we are left importing South African drivers into Ireland to meet demand.
Mr Hyland also called for for increased supports for hauliers, as they make the transition to more environmentally friendly fuel sources, such as HVO.
