Friday, 30 JULY 2010 - CATEGORY : MARKET NEWS
The European Parliament in Strasbourg estimates that CO2 emissions from road transport need to be reduced by 20% over the coming decade.The European Parliament has therefore approved a recommendation that includes this reduction target for the transportation of both passengers and goods by road. The air sector will be required to make an even greater effort: - 30%.
The Dutch Shippers' Council (EVO) is fuming: This proposal is unrealistic. And the body adds: We hope that the Council of Transport Ministers and the European Commission will not adopt this recommendation.
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Thursday, 29 JULY 2010 - CATEGORY : MARKET NEWS
According to Germany's federal bureau of statistics (Destatis), road transport prices in the first quarter of 2010 were down 0.3% on the fourth quarter of 2009.Compared with the first quarter of 2009, the downward trend is a sizeable 2.4%. This is the sixth quarter in a row that a fall has been recorded.
In contrast, prices of maritime and coastal navigation services were up two thirds in the first quarter of 2010 compared to the same period of 2009. Rail freight prices, meanwhile, rose by roughly 1%. As for the cost of air transport, this was almost 10% higher at the end of the first three months of this year (compared to the same period in 2009).
According to the German Federation of Transport and Logistics (BGL), the second and third quarters promise considerably brighter prospects for the road sector.
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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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