ESTA is calling on its members and the whole heavy transport industry to take immediate action this weekend to back proposed and essential EU transport reforms by lobbying their relevant national MEPs.
On Monday evening, October 7, the newly appointed members of the European Parliament’s Transport and Tourism (TRAN) Committee will meet to discuss whether to continue with the current proposals to revise the Weights and Dimensions Directive (96/53).
ESTA strongly supports the proposed revisions which include many measures the organisation has long called for.
The revisions previously agreed by the TRAN Committee were due to enter negotiations with the Council as the final stage before implementation.
But progress was stalled by the European elections in June and now the new members of the TRAN Committee must decide whether to continue as before or to start the revision process again.
ESTA Director Ton Klijn said: “As an ESTA member you are invited to raise this issue urgently in contacts with MEPs from your country who are a member or substitute member of EP TRAN.”
The committee membership is here https://www.europarl.europa.eu/committees/en/tran/home/members
And the agenda for the meeting is here
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TRAN-OJ-2024-10-07-1_EN.html
Klijn continued: “We urge you to call for their support to continue to work with the weights and dimensions report adopted by the previous European Parliament.”
The revisions to the directive previously adopted by MEPs include:
• a ‘one stop shop’ per country for permits
• standardised permit application forms
• use of electronic permits
• harmonisation of escorting rules and vehicle markings
• a ban on language requirements for drivers
• permitting systems to be available in all EU languages.
The revisions also include the long-awaited Europe-wide adoption of the standard SERT – the Special European Registration for Trucks and Trailers – documentation for abnormal load vehicle registration, a move that ESTA has supported for many years.
The Weights and Dimensions Directive sets maximum authorised dimensions of heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) used in national and international commercial transport and the maximum authorised weights of HDVs used in international commercial transport.
This ensures fair competition as member states cannot restrict the circulation of vehicles, which comply with these limits from performing international transport operations within their territories.
If accepted in full, the newly revised directive will also require EU member states to have a single access point for all information regarding national maximum authorised dimensions and weights of vehicles, as well as any restrictions, including on height, in specified areas or on specific roads.
And it commits the European Commission to establish a web portal which will contain all the above information about heavy and abnormal transport regulations, along with details of routes that can be used by vehicles transporting indivisible loads.
Ton Klijn concluded: “Many thanks in advance for any support you can give us on this hugely important issue. Should you have any questions with regard to this request, please do not hesitate to contact us.”