NEWS\\\


Road transport industry groups have hit out against proposals by nine European transport ministers that would ‘encourage’ trucking firms to allow drivers to return to their home base at weekends. It says that the proposals would reduce the competitiveness of European transport and would frustrate ambitions to reduce carbon emissions. Ministers from nine European


countries – Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Sweden


BIFA’s director


and Norway – have drawn up proposals for a ‘Road Alliance’ that, they say, would fight ‘social dumping’ in the industry by harmonising and strengthening legislation on driving and rest periods. In their proposals, the Road


Alliance suggests that there could be sanctions on companies that do not put in place measures allowing drivers to comply with hours regulations. Furthermore, there should be measures at national or European level to encourage drivers that work


East is east, and west is west... executive


responsible for policy and compliance, Robert Windsor, commented: “There has to a co- ordinated approach to resolving the issues facing the EU road freight industry. There is a tension between Western EU Members and their Eastern counterparts operating road freight services. In particular the Western Europeans object to Eastern European drivers working for long periods outside their own country and in effect becoming a posted worker instead of a mobile worker. We have seen individual countries take unilateral action, such as imposing minimum wage requirements on overseas drivers or prohibiting the week- end rest period being taken by drivers in their cabs.” Windsor added that all


individual initiatives need to be co-ordinated in order to make the EU road freight industry operate effectively. The probable


and


starting point is reforming current cabotage rules, which are largely seen as being too complex


unenforceable.


Any changes to cabotage always seem to be controversial, the Western nations being under pressure from their own road freight operators to limit what they see as a unfair competition and the Eastern operators complain about what they see as protectionism. He added that BIFA has been


involved in discussions with Clecat and the general view is that cabotage has to be reformed to make it simpler and more enforceable. “However, we do not feel it appropriate to say where a driver takes their rest - merely that it must be taken. To make drivers return home would increase operators’ costs and have a knock on impact on prices charged. The important point is that current legislation should be properly enforced.”


Clecat demands pragmatic approach


The Clecat European forwarders’ grouping called for a more realistic and pragmatic approach “at a time when Europe needs to refrain from further


society.” It says that protectionism which


will ultimately not bring benefits to the European economy and


liberalisation of international road freight transport has allowed social and economic growth all over Europe and remains the backbone of the EU economy. As far as the proposals to facilitate the return to home base


of the driver for regular weekly rest, it says: “In view of the highly mobile and international character of the road freight transport operations such a return to home base for regular weekly rests would not only increase the number of empty vehicles but equally increase the overall number of vehicles. Implementation of these sorts of rules into international road freight transport will ultimately undermine the competitiveness of the EU economy.” However,


Clecat is more 6 >>


away from their home country “to facilitate their return there at least on the occasion of the regular weekly rest period.” They also plan to increase


controls on light commercial vehicles under 3.5 tonnes that are not currently subject to the


Issue 2 2017 - Freight Business Journal


Forwarders dismayed by ‘go home’ plans for truck drivers


same rules as heavier trucks. They are also calling for


strengthened reporting of cabotage operations in the EU and more controls on tachograph fraud by so-called letterbox companies nominally established in the EU but with


a major part of their operation based outside its territory. The Road Alliance also wants


to encourage those member states that have not already done so to ratify the eCMR protocol. On cabotage, it wants to


improve the quality of data collected and strengthen reporting obligations. Controls against so-called


‘letterbox’ operators must be stiffened, it adds and there should be thorough investigation


3


of whether such companies have in fact been properly registered. It also notes that uncapping


road haulage quotas “would primarily benefit non- Community carriers” and could lead to increased social dumping, seriously undermining competitiveness of European carriers. Also, the free movement of light commercial vehicles


from third countries


within the EU “is also no longer acceptable.”


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