Hauliers and companies providing passenger transport held a new conference on Tuesday, with Peter Pišek of the Chamber of Craft and Small Business (OZS) underlining the significant role played by the sector that generates 7% of the country's GDP.

The sector with more than 8,000 companies employing some 35,000 people is disappointed that its demands remained unheard for over a year, heard the press conference organised by the OZS and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GZS).

The biggest problem is price dumping by foreign-owned companies. Last year alone, 400 foreign-owned transport companies were incorporated in Slovenia, said Pišek, adding that many of them are shell companies. He mentioned a case in which some 100 companies were registered at the same address.

The hauliers also demand improvements in traffic flow on the borders as well as on local roads. "Both chambers are against transit transport on local roads." Milan Slokar of the GZS added that the state needed to clearly define transit and internal transport.

Moreover, the companies are facing a lack of staff and have to rely on foreign workforce. While German transport companies need no more than a week to hire a new driver from abroad, this process can take as long as three months or more in Slovenia, transport companies warned.