The International Road Transport Union is calling for compensation for drivers and hauliers caught in the crossfire of ongoing farmer protests across Europe. These protests have severely disrupted vital trade routes, with drivers being held hostage for hours, cargo destroyed, and property damaged, the organisation claims.
The IRU, a global organisation representing road transport operators, stresses the significant impact on logistics chains and points to the use of similar tactics by farmers’ groups: blocking roads, borders and distribution centres, with long delays for drivers, who often lack access to basic amenities.
Financial losses are mounting, with the IRU estimating an average cost of €100 per hour for a stranded truck. This burden falls heavily on owner-drivers and small and medium transport firms, while the broader economic impact is estimated in the millions.
The organisation also raises concerns about a rise in violence, particularly in France, where masked protesters have targeted lorries and drivers. This includes damaging vehicles, destroying cargo, especially food, and primarily targeting foreign-registered trucks. “Freedom of speech does not equal freedom of destruction,” states the IRU EU Advocacy Director Raluca Marian. She emphasizes the right to protest, but condemns the targeting of innocent drivers, attacks on trucks, and property damage.
Central to the IRU’s call is the issue of compensation. They argue that many European governments have failed to ensure the free flow of goods, protect drivers, or uphold the rule of law, evidenced by instances where police are present but do not intervene.
Marian concludes that “governments have a duty to ensure the free movement of goods and guarantee the security of drivers and their cargo”. Given the “systemic breakdown in authority and order,” the IRU believes transport operators have a legitimate claim to compensation for their losses.
