Wednesday, 16 JUNE 2010 - CATEGORY : MARKET NEWS
In order to boost state revenue from 100 to 200 million euros per year, Peter Ramsauer, Germany's minister for transport, plans to extend the Lkw-Maut to dual carriageways.It is common knowledge that the country's chancellor, Angela Merkel, aims to implement a far-reaching programme of savings. Up until now, the transport sector has generally been spared from the worst effects of this plan.
Peter Ramsauer recently defended his proposal in front of the German Parliament's transport committee: This measure is in no way inspired by Angela Merkel's programme, he declared. On the contrary, the aim is to generate additional revenue.
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Tuesday, 15 JUNE 2010 - CATEGORY : MARKET NEWS
At the end of 2009, there were positive murmurings: transport prices would soon start to rise again around Europe. However, these hopes have not (yet) been confirmed.At least according to the third edition of the Transport Market Monitor, published in early June by Capgemini Consulting in conjunction with the IT supplier, Transporeon. During the first quarter of 2010, European road transport prices fell again, despite having displayed a positive trend in 2009.
In the light of the global economic recovery and the gradual rise of the index in 2009, this 5.9-point regression during the first three months of this year comes as quite a surprise.
But Capgemini Consulting is standing its ground and still predicting a lasting recovery in road transport prices during the second half of the year
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Tuesday, 15 JUNE 2010 - CATEGORY : MARKET NEWS
30 million euros: that's apparently the amount of revenue lost annually by the Dutch treasury due to eurovignette fraud. The Netherlands now plans to strengthen controls.The outgoing Dutch finance minister, Jan Kees de Jager, has announced more intensive checks to combat eurovignette fraud (perpetrated mainly by foreign hauliers).
The fiscal services will thus be deploying clearly identified vehicles equipped with infra-red cameras capable of scanning up to 60 number plates per minute. On board the vehicle, a computer system will compare this registration data with that from the database of vehicles with a valid eurovignette.
In the event of infringement, the HGVs concerned will be immobilised on the spot. Their drivers will then have to pay the cost of the eurovignette, along with a fine. In cases of repeat offending, the bill could reach several thousand euros.
By way of a reminder, trucks pay an amount between 960 and 1,550 euros per year, depending on the number of axles, the time slot and the environmental class. Eurovignettes can be ordered over the Internet or purchased at the main service stations.
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Monday, 14 JUNE 2010 - CATEGORY : MARKET NEWS
The eleven countries belonging to the Northern Dimension Partnership for Transport and Logistics (NDPTL) have endorsed setting up a secretariat for the partnership in the framework of the TEN-T Days conference in Zaragoza, Spain.So who are the members of this partnership? Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Norway, Finland, Poland, Russia and Belarus.
The first seven of these have signed the official agreement, while the remaining four partners have adopted a declaration of intent while their internal proceedings are pending, which will allow them to join the signing parties in the coming months.
To be hosted by the Helsinki-based Nordic Investment Bank, the secretariat should be in place from 1 January 2011.
The European Commission is not officially part of this secretariat. Nonetheless, Vice-President Siim Kallas, who is responsible for transport, is pleased with the agreement. This is an important milestone in the strengthening of the transport market in an area at the crossroads of West and East, North and South, he underlined.
All that remains is to establish the projects that will form the backbone of the transport system in this region.
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Friday, 11 JUNE 2010 - CATEGORY : MARKET NEWS
The International Transport Forum (ITF) recently published its latest set of accident statistics. According to this report, the number of fatal accidents fell by almost 10% in 2009 across the ITF's 52 member countries.The IRU has welcomed these figures, while at the same time underlining that every accident is one too many. The international union also confirms that road safety remains an absolute priority for the commercial road transport industry.
Janusz Lacny, the IRU's president, declared: As the data from the ITF confirms, progress has been made but there is still a great deal to be done. That's why the IRU recently took the decision to release very sizeable sums in order to improve the safety of commercial road transportation, on condition that this major financial commitment is supported by credible partners or by international donors in order to achieve the IRU's key objectives together.
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