Brussels, 27/01/2012 (Agence Europe) - Working and rest times of professional drivers need to be monitored in a reasonable way, the European Association for Forwarding, Transport, Logistic and Customs Services (CLECAT) told the Commission and member states in a position paper published on 25 January.
The review of tachograph legislation will be one of the priorities of the Danish Presidency of the EU Council. Thus it is that CLECAT deems it appropriate to make clear what is important for the road haulage sector. It calls for harmonisation across the EU of application of laws as, at present, the way lorry drivers are checked is often arbitrary and makes their working conditions difficult. CLECAT points out, however, that most drivers comply with the rest and driving times imposed. Consequently, the association fears that the current review going through the Council and Parliament focuses only on the issues of non-compliance with the rules and lays too great an emphasis on law-breaking. What road hauliers require are rules to make their lives easier, for example, by means of technical improvements, CLECAT says. Furthermore, the shift to digital tachographs will place additional burdens on operators' budgets. CLECAT warns against these further costs that the change would impose on an industry already under severe economic pressure.
The Danish Presidency is hoping a general approach on this issue will be agreed at the next meeting of European transport ministers on 22 March. (MD/transl.rt)