ESTA is pressing the European Commission to exempt international abnormal load pilot cars and escort vehicles from new regulations that require them to be equipped with tachographs, a policy that European heavy transport companies say is impractical and potentially dangerous. From July 1, Brussels extended the driving time, breaks, rest time and tachograph rules to … Read more
ESTA hopes that the growing interest in Intelligent Access policies for the European transport sector will provide additional pressure on regulators and politicians to back much-needed reforms and investment – and that the needs of abnormal transport will be fully taken into account. The thinking behind the Intelligent Access discussions – and possible next steps … Read more
Born in Madrid, Miguel Flórez de la Colina joined Mammoet’s Spanish operation in 1998, a company he stayed with for over 15 years. From 2014, he worked for heavy lifting and exceptional transport company Siladen Solutions who have acted as agents for Wagenborg Nedlift, Roll-Lift and Hareket, among others. Miguel also teaches construction and lifting … Read more
ESTA is carrying out a new study into the economic impact of the heavy lifting and abnormal transport industry with assistance from the University of Parma in Italy. This is the first time that such a study has been carried out since 2013, and the first to involve independent academic support. ESTA argues that the … Read more
Blanca Claeyssens, founder of ASA France, has been appointed to the ESTA Board. She was elected unanimously by ESTA’s General Assembly in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, last month. She has built her career around safety, drawing on experience in aviation, transport, and heavy lifting. She started out as an airline captain before moving into management and … Read more
The 2026 ESTA Awards dinner took place in the Netherlands on April 16 at the five-star Grand Hotel Huis ter Duin in Noordwijk aan Zee. In what was regarded as one of the most competitive competitions in the awards’ history, the finalists came from 23 different companies and eight countries. Details of the winning companies … Read more
ESTA Director Ton Klijn has announced that he is to retire at the end of June. He will be succeeded by ESTA Policy Officer Miguel Florez de la Colina. Ton Klijn has been active in the heavy lifting and transport industry since 1977, initially with Mammoet and later joining Wagenborg Nedlift where he was Managing … Read more
ESTA has proposed a series of amendments to the European Union’s Military Mobility Package – while at the same time underlining its strong support for the proposals. The amendments are an attempt to make the whole package as efficient and as practical as possible for civilian transport operators who are responsible for an estimated 80 … Read more
Experts working on ESTA’s plans for a new best practice guide and training scheme for Modular Hydraulic Suspended Trailers and SPMTs are developing a graded operator licence structure to take account of the type of transport and the complexity of the project involved. They are also developing an agreed set of additional requirements for operators … Read more
Sponsorship positions for this year’s ESTA events – for the 2026 Awards Event and the 50th Anniversary ‘year-round’ slots – are selling fast and companies that want to be involved should contact ESTA as soon as possible. ESTA Marketing Manager Connie Lindhoud said: “ESTA was founded in 1976, so this year is a very special … Read more