Truck drivers are considering mounting blockades in protest at soaring fuel costs.
President of the Irish Road Haulage Association Jimmy Quinn said the industry was in a crisis not seen since the 1970s.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio's Morning Ireland, Mr Quinn claimed many hauliers were in the red and were six weeks from going out of business.
However he said there was a window of opportunity for talks with exporters until 27 June.
A spokesman for the IRHA said last night that after this date truckers would look at what he called a 'doomsday scenario' involving the blockade of ports.
Members of the IRHA met for almost three hours in Portlaoise last night to discuss their responses to spiralling fuel costs.
The meeting ended with a suggestion that truckers could mount a blockade to highlight their grievances.
Truckers say they can no longer continue to absorb the extra expense and that they need a surcharge.
There was also considerable anger at suggestions that some freight companies are charging surcharges but not passing them on to hauliers.
Meanwhile talks resume today aimed at averting a strike by hundreds of fuel-tanker drivers in the UK, who are also angry at rising fuel prices.
