WIMMERA owner-drivers will join truck drivers from western Victoria at an information session in Haven on Friday to discuss an industry shut down.
The Australian Long Distance Owners and Drivers Association has asked truck drivers nationwide to stop work for two weeks, starting July 28, to highlight the impact of rising fuel costs.
Association national organiser Fletcher Davis said information sessions had already taken place throughout Australia and said this would be the last session before the shut down.
He said he hoped people from Portland, Colac, Geelong, Warrnambool, Mortlake and Camperdown would attend the session as well as people from the Wimmera.
"It's an information meeting to touch base with all the local transport companies and farm groups or those who have interest in transport," he said.
"It's also for the general public because they use fuel to run their cars, their lawn mowers and for domestic purposes and entertainment."
Mr Davis said even though farmers were not likely to stop driving their trucks during the two weeks of action, he said he would like them to attend the session to discuss the important issue of rising fuel costs.
"The farming sector operates quite large machinery and use trucks to carry their produce to railway yards and to storage silos," he said.
Mr Davis said the session would include a discussion of the main issues, information on the proposed action and a question and answer time.
"We want to receive questions and get advice from the people present," he said.
"It's important that no areas of Victoria are left uninformed."
He said the session was at the Horsham Golf Club, 304 Golf Course Road, Haven, and would start at 8pm.
Mr Davis said the association had received a good reaction from people who had already attended information sessions and was expecting a large number of people, particularly owner-drivers, to stop work.
He claimed the action would have a `very dramatic effect' on the transport industry.
"Too many individuals and companies are going broke because they're not getting the returns that they should be given and they're not being paid the correct rates and not having the full fuel subsidy handed to them," he said.
"They are entitled to a reasonable return and a reasonable living."