The European Union’s Mobility Package will increase the costs for road hauliers, which will also affect producers and end consumers, Kristiāns Godiņš, Chairman of the Board of the Road Transport Directorate, told reporters on 20 August.
He explained that the rules of the EU Mobility Package will gradually enter into force this year and in the coming years.
“Its development has taken more than three years, which have been spent in intense discussions and active work, representing the interests of state carriers. Not all decisions have been unequivocally assessed and supported by different countries. The proposed solution puts Latvia in a more uncompetitive position, taking into account Latvia’s geographical location, “said Godiņš, adding that the Road Transport Directorate, for its part, will try to provide the widest possible information support to carriers.
He emphasized that Latvian road hauliers will be competitive even under such conditions, however, the directorates believe that the decisions taken should be reviewed.
Within the framework of Mobility Package I, changes have come into force from 20 August regarding the organization of drivers’ working and rest time, which will complicate the work of Latvian road hauliers, for example, the carrier must ensure that drivers return home or in the company’s country of registration every four weeks. The conditions also stipulate that the driver must not spend regular rest (45 hours) in the car, but in a hotel or hostel. Godiņš added that this is also a risk for carriers, because cargo is valuable and it is not possible to leave it in a safe, guarded place everywhere.
Conditions of Mobility Package I stipulate that information on safe and secure parking places must be available together so that drivers can plan a stop in time for the journey.
Godiņš expressed doubts whether there will be enough such places, as the number of carriers has increased in recent years.
Changes are also expected with regard to the remuneration of drivers and controls. At present, each country has its own procedures for fulfilling and controlling the conditions of posting of workers and the minimum wage, but from 2 February 2022, a carrier who will perform road transport in another Member State will be obliged to send a declaration of posting using a common system for all EU countries. The carrier will also be required to provide, at the request of the competent authorities, proof of the carriage performed, copies of the tachograph data and documentation of the remuneration of the posted driver.
From February 2, 2022, it is also planned to strengthen control by improving the cooperation of controlling institutions and paying increased attention to “mailbox companies”.
From 21 February 2022, additional conditions will be set for the carrier to have access to the road haulage business, for example, the haulier will have to organize the fleet so that the vehicles return to the country of registration within at least eight weeks of departure. “Latvian vehicles have more than 2,000 kilometers to return from France or Italy, so the carrier will be interested in picking up any cargo at any cost to reduce their costs,” said Godins.
The range of infringements that could be penalized will also be extended, for example in connection with tax law, the posting of workers, and cabotage infringements.
Road transport associations Latvijas Auto Chairman of the Board Aleksandrs Pociluiko said that Mobility Package I has created new, restrictive conditions for Latvian road hauliers.
“Requiring hauliers to organize their work so that drivers can return every four weeks and mandatory return of the vehicle will increase costs and reduce revenue for road hauliers,” Pociluiko said. He added that the requirement to return the vehicle was also contrary to the EU’s transport policy priority of reducing the number of serious road accidents and to the EU’s Green Course, as it could lead to an additional 3.77 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.
Pociluiko explained that it takes about three days for each transport unit to return to its home country. “The car has to pay for roads, pour fuel, pay the driver’s salary, but there will be no cargo. Many will not be able to pull it off, “he said Latvijas Auto emphasizing that this will be a serious test for the Latvian road transport industry.
Cargo Carrier Ltd. Dinotrans Board member Allans Aukštikalnis emphasized that there are a lot of unclear issues in the Mobility Package, moreover, it is not clear how the rules will be controlled.
He told me that Dinotrans wants to continue operating and is interested in finding solutions and working with customers. “The whole package will become more expensive, so we will want to talk to customers about price changes. It will be difficult, because there is a lot of competition in the market, “said Aukštikalnis, adding that the costs for Eastern European countries, which are closer to Central Europe, will not increase so much, so Latvia is one of the biggest losers.
He also hoped that the case would go to the European Court of Justice.
Also Ltd. Communication Ilze Zaula, Chairman of the Board, said that this is the biggest crisis the industry has gone through so far. She stressed that the cargo will not be enough for all companies and competition will increase.
She also said that in the worst case scenario, returning drivers to their home country every four weeks, returning cars to their home country every eight weeks, hotel and other rules created by the Mobility Package will increase the company’s expenses by 1.4 million euros a year.
Communication is already looking at how to register its fleet outside Latvia and also move operations centers outside Latvia.
“These decisions will also affect consumers, traders, insurers and a range of other transport-related matters. Transport costs will definitely increase, so it will also affect the wallets of the population, »said Zaula.
Godiņš pointed out that Latvia’s further action is not yet clear, as there are clearly points that are unsatisfactory.
Latvia could be among the countries that are directly involved in applying to the European Court of Justice or a country that at least supports the claims of other countries in court. “It is clear that the road freight industry is very important for Latvia. More important than by rail. That must be understood. Volumes are falling by rail, so everything must be done to maintain the volume of cargo on the roads, “said Godiņš, explaining that negotiations are currently underway with Bulgaria, Romania, Poland and Lithuania, which are also considering going to the European Court.
The mobility package also provides for changes to the provision of international commercial transport of goods vehicles with a maximum mass exceeding 2.5 tonnes but not exceeding 3.5 tonnes. From 21 May 2022, in order to provide such services, the carrier will not need a license card, but a copy of the European Community permit for each vehicle. From 1 July 2026, the carrier will have to use a tachograph to record working and rest time when carrying out international commercial freight transport with a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight of more than 2.5 tonnes. At present, such vehicles do not need to be equipped with a tachograph.
It is planned that changes will also be made to the tachograph system, as the first version of the analogue, digital and smart tachograph will be replaced by the second version of the smart tachograph. Also, from 2 February 2022, the crossing of Member States’ borders in the tachograph will have to be registered at the nearest possible stop at the border or after crossing it. From December 31, 2024, the driver will be able to present information about the work and rest period – for the current day and 56 previous days, instead of 28, as it is now.
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