Dutch truck drivers are little bothered by the fuel shortage in France. Drivers are said to be more bothered by the blockades in the country than by the lack of fuel. This reports industry association Transport en Logistiek Nederland (TLN).
It has been unsettled in France for ages since Prime Minister Manuel Valls introduced a new labour law. Demonstrations are taking place daily in Paris and trade union CGT is staging strikes and blockades to force the government to repeal the new labour law. As the country's oil refineries are blocked, there is a fuel shortage in north-western France. No fuel is available at many pumps, while there are long queues at others. The country has now deployed its strategic stockpile to deal with the shortages. With this, it says it can weather this crisis for three months.
According to TLN, truck drivers can get around this problem quite easily. Drivers can fill up in the Netherlands or Belgium, and then not need new fuel in the troubled area. "This is a relatively small area," said a spokeswoman. Accordingly, fuel sales at Belgian filling stations near the French border have increased fivefold since the blockage. The industry association does think that blockades should be banned more quickly in Europe. The blockades now last for days, which TLN says is out of date. "That ban should be possible within 24," it said.
Editorial LogistiekProfs
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