Austria: Nation-wide truck toll would cost EUR 400 million in total

Representatives of the federal departments of the Austrian Economic Chamber agree: “Nation-wide truck toll would be only a new tax for consumers“

Austria’s industry vehemently protest against the introduction of a nation-wide truck toll. In a broad alliance the leading representatives of the Austrian Economic Chamber’s federal divisions for transport, trade, commerce and craft as well as industry in a press conference yesterday referred to the toll as an attack on the regions and a mass tax, Austria’s consumers would have to pay at the end of the day. In order to substantiate the charges for the location, the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber has now commissioned a study that will be present by the end of the year.

Assuming an average value of 30.1 cents per km (excluding VAT) for all trucks heavier than 3.5 tons, a nationwide truck toll results in total costs of about EUR 400 million for the local industry (excluding agriculture and authorities), WKO experts estimated. „Although we can not quantify exactly how much costs we really have to face, one thing is clear: such a toll would be an insupportable burden on the industry. At the end of the day all consumers would have to pay this tax,“ Alexander Klacska, chairman of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, federal division for transport said alarmingly.

A truck toll on the secondary road network would not only affect the transport industry, but also trade, commerce, industry and the consumer. Bettina Loren, chairwoman Austrian Federal Economic Chamber of Commerce, explained: „That would be a massive attack on the rural areas and the local supply of Austria. The ways of the local supply can not be moved. If transport is more expensive in remote areas, this can compromise the supply structures“.

Siegfried Menz, chairman of the Federal Division for Industry, pointed out the negative consequences of a nationwide truck toll for Austria as a business location: „People want more regionality. But the plans for a nationwide truck toll torpedo just that. They would be harmful and counterproductive for the location and competition“. In some provinces new toll-ideas were communicated lately: In addition to the higher-ranking road network (motorways and expressways), a use tax („toll“) should be introduced for trucks over 3.5 tonnes on the secondary road network of state and local roads.

www.wko.at

Quelle: LogEastics
Portal: www.logistik-express.com

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