ESTA support for Czech member association Čestand

ESTA Director Ton Klijn and Section Transport Vice President Iffet Türken spoke at the annual meeting of Czech abnormal transport association Čestand in September to support its discussions with the Czech authorities on new rules on heavy transport escorts and permits. The meeting was attended by over 40 delegates and was held in the Bohemian … Read more

ESTA Board backs SPMT operators licence plans

ESTA’s board members have given their backing to the development of a new European Crane and Transport Operators Licence (ECTOL) organisation. It will be formally given the go-ahead in the near future – assuming that it receives the final approval of the supervisory board of the existing European Crane Operators Licence, ECTOL will be an … Read more

Growing heavy transport crisis in Germany impacting wider economy, warns ESTA

ESTA fears that the heavy transport crisis in Germany is getting worse, despite assurances from regional and national authorities that they are responding to the industry’s concerns. It is warning that the country’s system for regulating heavy and abnormal transports is facing near collapse due to the lengthy and growing delays in obtaining permits. The … Read more

Crane risk management work aiming for Spring publication

ESTA is aiming for its work on crane risk management to be completed early next year with a report published in the Spring. The ESTA crane risk management working group is planning to produce new guidelines to help companies assess the risks involved in different types of work and give them advice on how to … Read more

SPMT guidance plans progressing well

A meeting of ESTA’s SPMT working group in October will decide whether to adopt a new document on ensuring the stability of SPMTs and will also come to a final agreement on the contents of a new SPMT operators’ training regime. ESTA Director Ton Klijn said: “Around the world, we are still seeing far too … Read more

Brussels’ proposals on heavy transport ‘a step in the right direction’, says ESTA.

ESTA has given a qualified welcome to detailed new proposals from the European Commission on the weights and dimensions of heavy-duty vehicles allowed to operate on Europe’s roads and related regulations governing heavy and abnormal transport. The proposals are contained in planned amendments to directive 96/53/EC published in July and will next be debated in … Read more

ESTA joins ESPORG to boost campaign for improved abnormal transport parking facilities

ESTA has been accepted as an associate member of ESPORG, the European Secure Parking Organisation representing all parties interested in safe and secure truck parking. ESPORG’s members include parking area operators, transport and logistics companies, shippers and drivers’ representatives. ESTA Director Ton Klijn said: “The move is the latest example of ESTA’s intention to work … Read more

European Crane Operators Licence successfully renews ISO 9001 accreditation.

ESTA’s European Crane Operators’ Licence (ECOL) has renewed itsISO 9001:2015 certification after successfully meeting the required criteria. The news means that ECOL will continue to have the licence registered and recognised by the Dutch NLQF qualifications framework. Through the NLQF ECOL is aligned with the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) across Europe. The ISO 9000 family … Read more

EC announces “serious and detailed” proposals on abnormal transport reform

ESTA is studying carefully new proposals from the European Commission on improving the efficiency and environmental impact of the transport sector – including abnormal transport. They were contained in the Greening Transport Package and the revision of the Weights and Dimensions Directive on road transport – 96/53/EC – unveiled by Brussels last week. The wide-ranging … Read more

Brussels says improved support for heavy transport is in the pipeline

ESTA has reacted with cautious optimism to a letter from the European Commission expressing Brussels’ strong support for measures to improve the efficiency and safety of abnormal and heavy transport. The letter was written by Kristian Schmidt, land transport director at DG Move, the Commission’s Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport, on behalf of the European … Read more