Forwarding, Freight News, Logistics, Road

Clecat disappointed by cabotage plans

[ December 7, 2018   //   Chris ]

European forwarders’ representative group Clecat says it is disappointed at the European Council’s recent compromise agreement on posting of workers.
It says that the agreement, if implement, would in “no way respond to the need for simple, uniform, clear and easily enforceable rules which would facilitate transport operations, protect the workers employed in this industry and ensure a fair competitive environment.”
It would also “put an end to the efficiency and environmental gains that European road freight transport has achieved thanks to the Single Market.”
Far from simplifying cabotage operations, it will make them more complex, it argues.
It says that intra-EU trade and transport have developed beyond bilateral import/export movements and: “Excluding bilateral transport plus two operations through the same Member States is far from sufficient to guarantee a well-functioning internal market for road transport. The text, if implemented, would create unnecessary empty runs on EU roads.”
It adds that the compromise will not lead to better regulation, as the stated objective of better enforcement will not be reached, as the smart tachograph will only become mandatory by the end of 2024.
Moreover, it would restrict labour mobility as the suggested regulatory requirements would result in different salary levels depending on the type of transport; creatings confusion for intra-EU and third country drivers operating on a permit basis in the EU.
The signatories urge the Members of the European Parliament to strive for a competitive and enforceable international transport policy by fully excluding international transport from posting rules.

Tags: Clecat, European Commission