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
ESTA has released the detailed results of its industry-wide safety survey. The results revealed that safety is a high priority for the vast majority of companies, management and employees in the European heavy lifting and abnormal transport industry – but adds that there is more work to do if the highest standards are to be … Read more
ESTA has published a new position paper on Military Mobility as it pushes Brussels to deliver on its promise of efficient and common heavy transport regulations for both military and industrial use. The paper strongly backs the EU’s recently published Military Mobility Package, but contains recommendations on how to improve them further and to ensure … Read more
ESTA’s German association member BSK is warning European heavy transport companies of the federal highway authorities’ plans to close the country’s A27 motorway near Bremen from next year due to bridge replacement work – and that no easy diversions will be available as local roads are not strong enough. The 150-kilometre A27 motorway is a … Read more
ESTA’s new European Trailer Operator Licence (ETOL) for Modular Hydraulically Suspended Trailers – such as SPMTs – has taken an important step forward following the latest round of discussions between users and manufacturers. The in-depth discussions held by ESTA’s specialist MHST working group earlier this month focussed on the design of the trailer operator training … Read more
Germany’s state authorities have extended the country-wide trial period for the use of digital co-drivers in abnormal transports until the end of June 2027. The trial phase was first introduced in the summer of 2024 and was originally due to expire on December 31, 2025 when uniform national Federal regulations were expected to be adopted … Read more
The recently conducted ESTA Safety Survey provided valuable insights into safety perception, practices and expectations across the European lifting and transport sector. The results highlighted the need for transparency and knowledge-sharing regarding incidents, as well as the demand for harmonisation of HSE training standards. Based on these findings, the ESTA HSE Commission has decided to … Read more
Long-awaited and major reforms of the regulations governing European heavy transport are still on track and have entered the next stage of negotiations. Early in December the EU’s Council of Transport Ministers agreed the proposed revisions of the Weights and Dimensions Directive without any further changes. This means that a series of measures long called … Read more
ESTA has said it strongly supports the EU’s newly published Military Mobility Package that aims to make it easier for troops, equipment and military assets to move quickly and smoothly across Europe. The package contains measures to streamline and coordinate national regulations, boost investment in essential infrastructure and drive change through the creation of new … Read more
Plans for a radical overhaul of the fragmented European regulations governing heavy and abnormal transport have moved a step closer after a successful High-Level Debate at the European Parliament in Brussels. Military Mobility Package Organized by ESTA, the debate was held on the eve of the publication of the European Commission’s Military Mobility Package which … Read more