Euro MPs draw up new drivers hours rules 8


A European Parliament committee has approved a deal to reform the road transport sector with revised rules for posting of drivers, drivers’ rest times and better enforcement of cabotage rules. The agreement retains existing


limits on cabotage of three operations within seven days, but in order to tackle fraud, vehicle tachographs will be used to register border-crossings. To prevent “systematic


cabotage”, there will also be a cooling-off period of four days before more cabotage operations can be carried out within same country with the same vehicle.


To fi ght the use of letterbox


companies, road haulage businesses will need to have substantial activities in the member state in which they are registered and the new rules will also require trucks to return to the company’s operational centre every eight weeks. Operators using light


commercial vehicles of over 2.5 tonnes will also be subject to EU rules and would need to equip vehicles with tachographs. New


rules on posting of


drivers stipulate that they apply to


cabotage and international transport operations, excluding


transit, bilateral operations and bilateral operations with one extra loading or unloading allowed in each direction - or zero on the way out and two on return. Operators will have to organise


schedules so that drivers in international freight transport can return home at regular intervals (every three or four weeks depending on the work schedule). The mandatory regular weekly


rest cannot be taken in the truck cab and, if it is taken away from home, the company must pay for accommodation costs. In exceptional cases, new rules will allow drivers to exceed the


EFL ensures smooth transition for Byrne clients


Dublin-based freight forwarder EFL International has taken on the customers and businesses of one of the city’s last independent operators, Byrne Airfreight. Ex-Aer Lingus employee


driving time under strict limitations to reach home to take their weekly rest, but only when they are very close to the home base. The deal will now need to be


approved by EU ministers and then by the European Parliament as a whole to enter into force. The rules on posting will apply


18 months aſt er the entry into force of the legal act but those on rest times, including the return of drivers, will apply 20 days aſt er publication of the act. Rules on return of trucks and other changes to market access rules will apply 18 months aſt er the entry into force of act on market access.


Eddie Byrne, who founded Byrne Airfreight in the early 1980s, retired in December 2019 but was anxious to fi nd his staff and customers a worthy new home. The


answer was EFL


International, based just a few kilometres away south of Byrne Airfreight’s location to the north of the city airport. Chris Radley (pictured), director


of EFL International based just a few kilometres away said: “With the long relationship between our two companies over many years, Eddie decided to direct all his customers and overseas agents to EFL to ensure continuity for the business, staff and, above all, customers. And, I am pleased to report, just about every customer has decided to come over to EFL.” Byrne employees June Shaw


(leſt ) took up her employment with EFL at the start of January and Darren Greene will follow shortly. The new recruits will help to further strengthen EFL’s already substantial airfreight activity and, crucially, will also add customs expertise in the run-up to the UK’s Brexit at the end of the year. EFL International off ers a


complete range of sea freight, overland trailer and airfreight services to the Irish market, as well as operations in a couple of niche areas. These include Pets on Board, a pet and animal transportation service; with staff that include a fully qualifi ed veterinary nurse and others trained to IATA Live Animal Regulations standards. It also has a motorbike


transportation service - Bike on Board - whereby EFL moves bikers’ machines in specialised cradles by freight transport from Ireland to locations in Europe – or further afi eld- while their owners travel out comfortably by air to rejoin their machines and tour the continent.


Transaid_LEJOG_A4_Ad_AW.indd 1 13/02/2019 13:01


Issue 1 2020 - Freight Business Journal


News Roundup


///NEWS


Shareholders of troubled logistics operator Eddie Stobart have approved a plan by major shareholder, DBay Advisors to take control of the company, increasing its stake to 51%. Eddie Stobart chief executive Alex Laff ey stood down in the summer following an accounting error that overstated profi ts by £2 million, leading to a collapse in its share price.


The fi rst TIR transport movement from Dubai to Jordan via Saudi Arabia has been successfully concluded. It reduced the normal seven-day transit time to just four days. The Electronic Advance Declaration facility reduced waiting time at the Saudi border by an average of six hours.


Adina-Ioana Vălean has been appointed as the new European Transport Commissioner. A Romanian national, she is a long-time Member of the European Parliament and current chair of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy.


The Rail Freight Group (RFG) has appointed Joe O’Donnell as its new head of policy. He was previously head of policy and communications at the Heritage Alliance, representing around 130 organisations from the National Trust and English Heritage to small charities.


A Highways England-commissioned study of the Orwell Bridge in Ipswich – a vital link to and from the port of Felixstowe - has identifi ed new measures that could help to keep the bridge open to traffi c during high winds. Options include reducing the speed limit over the bridge during high winds, temporary lane closures or keeping the bridge open in one direction only. Highways England will now assess the feasibility of the measures with a view to introducing technology able to change the speed limit in high winds before the end of the year.


The Freight Transport Association has welcomed opening of the Huntingdon Southern Bypass on the A14 between the Midlands and Felixstowe, a year ahead of schedule. Head of east and south of England, Natalie Chapman, said the early launch “showcases the best in British ingenuity, hard work and effi ciency; FTA and its members look forward to the rest of the scheme opening later next year”.


The United Nations adopted a resolution to connect landlocked countries with global markets in early December, reports the International Road Transport Union. IRU secretary general Umberto de Pretto took part in a high-level panel on regional integration and infrastructure connectivity in New York which called on governments to implement existing legal instruments such as the TIR transit system. At the moment, only 11 out of 32 landlocked countries have implemented TIR, leading to long border delays in many parts of the world, says IRU.


Maritime Transport has promoted John Bailey to managing director – intermodal and terminals and has appointed James Tierney as its rail development manager. James Bailey has held key roles at GB Railfreight, Colas Rail, DHL and Network Rail.


Eurotunnel operator Getlink SE is to separate the functions of chairman of the board of directors and chief executive offi cer from 1 July. Yann Leriche is appointed chief executive offi cer and Jacques Gounon becomes non executive chairman. Leriche has had a 20-year career in transport in France and overseas and, since 2017, latterly as chief executive of transit operator Transdev in North America.


Eurotunnel operator Getlink has appointed Sandrine Prieur as corporate social responsibility director. She was most recently deputy director of environmental and sustainable development at Paris airport operator Groupe ADP. It has also appointed Deborah Merrens as chief commercial offi cer, replacing Jo Willacy who stepped down in October 2019. Merrens was latterly a vice president of tax-free shopping fi rm Global Blue.


Road & Rail


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