ESTA has welcomed the German authorities moves to consult industry associations and their members on a package of new proposed heavy transport permit regulations – but has called on the Berlin government to align them with the new rules currently being developed by Brussels.
The proposed new regulations are currently under discussion by both federal and state authorities with the aim of agreeing them by the autumn.
ESTA Director Ton Klijn said: “We are pleased that the German authorities are finally giving the problems facing heavy transport with the attention they deserve.
“However, we will be seeking reassurance that new German regulations do not contradict new EU-wide rules that are already well advanced in the European Parliament.
“If necessary, we hope that they will amend their plans to take into account measures that have already garnered wide support across Europe, and so avoid creating unnecessary delays and uncertainty.”
ESTA is involved in the discussions in Germany through its involvement with Verbändeinitiative Großraum und Schwertransporte (VI GST) – the Association Initiative for Large-scale and Heavy Transport.
VI GST has brought together 31 mostly German economic, business and transport organisations to the pressurise the German government to take urgent action to improve the difficult conditions faced by large and heavy transport in the country.