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BackIt is becoming increasingly clear that the European Commission is set to permit the cross-border use of oversized HGVs weighing up to 60 tons with a length of 25 metres. Hence, a few weeks before the publication of the Commission Proposal, the Austrian Federal Chamber of Labour, the Austrian Trade Union for Transport vida, the No Mega Trucks campaign and the Austrian Trade Union Federation organised together a network meeting this week to discuss measures against the plans of the Commission.
As we already reported in several articles (see links at the end of this article), Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas caused a stir, when he, following a visit to the haulage organisation International Road Transport Union (IRU), announced last year that the cross-border use of mega trucks weighing up to 60 tons with a length of 25 metres would now be possible. Currently, HGVs may be up to max. 18.75 metres long and weigh up to 40 tons. This approach spread displeasure among MEPs and civil society.
U-turn of the Commission concerning mega trucks
As the EU representative Brian Simpson, Chair of the Transport Committee in the European Parliament, who had been invited to the network meeting, informed, Commissioner Kallas had confirmed in a written response to MEP Michael Cramer in 2010 that according to current EU law, the cross-border use of mega trucks would not be permitted. That Kallas was now interpreting the relevant Directive in a different way, had sparked protests in the European Parliament, even by supporters of mega trucks. MEPs had written several letters to Commissioner Kallas and Commission President Barroso, urging to use the forthcoming revision of the Directive to clarify whether the Commission was in favour of the cross-border use of these HGVs or not.
Legislative proposal shall be published mid-April
Even during the course of organising the network meeting, it looked as if the European Commission did not want to deal with this issue in the draft Directive at all and would prefer instead to focus on the aerodynamic design of HGV driver cabins. The Commission even rejected the participation in the network meeting, if the discussion would cover mega trucks. However, according to recent information it seems as if the Commission is at least putting an end to playing hide and seek as it is now officially supporting the gross-border use of mega trucks, which will be stated in an article of the draft Directive. The intention is to publish the legislative proposal mid-April.
Costs, safety, environmental and relocation risks not yet analysed in impact assessment
For organisations from environmental, rail and road infrastructure and the labour sector, participating in the network meeting, the affirmation of the Commission on mega trucks is yet another reason for criticism: in its pre-emptive obedience in favour of haulage companies, the Commission has not even carried out an analysis of the consequences of the cross-border use of mega trucks: concerning the road transport infrastructure, one can expect costs running into billions, as many roads are not designed to carry such heavy vehicles, not to mention the adjustment of tunnels and bridges. The use of mega trucks will put road safety to the test. Apart from that, one can expect a further shift from rail to road, which entails a negative impact on both employment and the environment - even though the Commission still asserted in its White Paper that it would do everything in its power to achieve a shift of transport from road to rail.
Outcome of negotiations on mega trucks still open
Opponents of cross-border mega trucks still have a lot of explanatory work to do: because, warns MEP Brian Simpson: even though EU representatives agreed that the approach by the Commission should be condemned, there are still many parliamentary representatives who welcome the cross-border use of mega trucks. Whether opponents or supporters of the Commission Proposal will have the majority is still completely open.
Further information:
Debate on oversized heavy goods vehicles puts EU Transport Commissioner Kallas once again at the centre of criticism
Mega trucks: Transport Commissioner Kallas bows to pressure of freight lobby
U-turn of the Commission concerning mega trucks
As the EU representative Brian Simpson, Chair of the Transport Committee in the European Parliament, who had been invited to the network meeting, informed, Commissioner Kallas had confirmed in a written response to MEP Michael Cramer in 2010 that according to current EU law, the cross-border use of mega trucks would not be permitted. That Kallas was now interpreting the relevant Directive in a different way, had sparked protests in the European Parliament, even by supporters of mega trucks. MEPs had written several letters to Commissioner Kallas and Commission President Barroso, urging to use the forthcoming revision of the Directive to clarify whether the Commission was in favour of the cross-border use of these HGVs or not.
Legislative proposal shall be published mid-April
Even during the course of organising the network meeting, it looked as if the European Commission did not want to deal with this issue in the draft Directive at all and would prefer instead to focus on the aerodynamic design of HGV driver cabins. The Commission even rejected the participation in the network meeting, if the discussion would cover mega trucks. However, according to recent information it seems as if the Commission is at least putting an end to playing hide and seek as it is now officially supporting the gross-border use of mega trucks, which will be stated in an article of the draft Directive. The intention is to publish the legislative proposal mid-April.
Costs, safety, environmental and relocation risks not yet analysed in impact assessment
For organisations from environmental, rail and road infrastructure and the labour sector, participating in the network meeting, the affirmation of the Commission on mega trucks is yet another reason for criticism: in its pre-emptive obedience in favour of haulage companies, the Commission has not even carried out an analysis of the consequences of the cross-border use of mega trucks: concerning the road transport infrastructure, one can expect costs running into billions, as many roads are not designed to carry such heavy vehicles, not to mention the adjustment of tunnels and bridges. The use of mega trucks will put road safety to the test. Apart from that, one can expect a further shift from rail to road, which entails a negative impact on both employment and the environment - even though the Commission still asserted in its White Paper that it would do everything in its power to achieve a shift of transport from road to rail.
Outcome of negotiations on mega trucks still open
Opponents of cross-border mega trucks still have a lot of explanatory work to do: because, warns MEP Brian Simpson: even though EU representatives agreed that the approach by the Commission should be condemned, there are still many parliamentary representatives who welcome the cross-border use of mega trucks. Whether opponents or supporters of the Commission Proposal will have the majority is still completely open.
Further information:
Debate on oversized heavy goods vehicles puts EU Transport Commissioner Kallas once again at the centre of criticism
Mega trucks: Transport Commissioner Kallas bows to pressure of freight lobby