The drop in private consumption in the Netherlands has led to a decrease in transport activity in the first quarter. According to the TLN’s current situation barometer, turnover figures were down by 3.7% compared to the first quarter of 2011, and as much as 6.5% for small companies. TLN believes that these small companies have hardly any reserves left to face up to the crisis. One of the main problems for small transporters lies in the impossibility of making their clients bear the increase in the cost of diesel, despite the existence of the diesel clause: 20% of transporters questioned state that they have to bear the consequences of this increase themselves.