Operators without hire permits were doing general trucking work, they complained.

The group, mainly independent hire truckers, agreed to form a united body to put their case. Another meeting is planned for June 3.

"The main gripe was persons with trucks doing work that hire truckers should be doing, and taking work away from them,'' said TCD's admission and registration manager Mr. Val Caesar.

TCD was prepared to work with the truckers, he said.

Many truckers were suffering hard times because of the continuing impact of the recession, he said.

And there was concern about whether they would get work resulting from an upcoming demolition job.