The French Organisation of European Road Hauliers (OTRE), representing small and medium-sized transport companies, is sounding the alarm about the effects of the farmers’ mobilization. In recent days, the protests have taken a particularly dangerous form.
In various regions of France refrigerated vehicles have been intercepted, semi-trailers forced open, and the transported goods destroyed. OTRE stresses that these actions took place in front of law enforcement, which did not intervene, even though they were clearly illegal.
Understanding for farmers, but not for violence
The hauliers’ association emphasizes that it understands the difficult situation in the agricultural sector and the scale of frustration accompanying the protests. At the same time, it notes that no form of dissent can justify violating other people’s property, destroying cargo, or paralyzing a key sector of the economy—road transport.
According to OTRE, such actions expose transport companies—already weakened by market conditions—to serious financial losses that many businesses, especially SMEs, may not be able to absorb.
Call to guarantee free passage
OTRE is once again urging the authorities to ensure freedom of movement for vehicles across the entire territory of France. The organization also appeals to protesting farmers to immediately stop farmers’ blockades of trucks, unauthorised checks, vehicle vandalism, and the destruction of goods.
In the hauliers’ view, the state has a duty to protect both vehicles and the cargo being transported, regardless of the nature of the protests.
If the state does not respond, compensation will be needed
The association does not hide the fact that the lack of an effective response from the authorities deepens the economic imbalance in the transport industry. OTRE warns that if the state is unable to guarantee safety and freedom of passage, the government will have to implement compensation mechanisms for companies affected by the protests.
Among the proposed solutions, OTRE lists:
- exemptions from fiscal burdens and social contributions,
- guarantees that no penalties will be imposed for violations directly resulting from the protests,
- measures to prevent transport companies from going bankrupt.
The organization emphasizes that transport companies do not want to once again bear the costs of blockades on their own, as happened during previous social conflicts. In today’s economic reality, such burdens may be simply destructive for many companies.
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A signal for international hauliers
For hauliers operating to and through France, OTRE’s message serves as a clear warning. The farmers’ protests, driven by opposition to the European Union–Mercosur agreement, are not limited to road blockades but are increasingly taking the form of direct actions targeting freight transport, including food.
In the coming weeks, the key question will be whether the French authorities decide on real action on the ground, or whether the burden of the consequences will continue to rest on hauliers’ shoulders.
