The European Freight Index produced by Danske Bank indicates less positive development than was expected. Having slipped from 67 in April to 63 in May, the index is lower than the participants in the survey had anticipated two months ago. The air freight index dropped sharply to below the 50 threshold and maritime freight also contracted, while road freight remains relatively stable.
The survey consisted of two main questions: what is the volume of freight currently being processed by the company compared with 2 months ago and how are the volumes likely to evolve over the next 2 months? The responses give a value index that varies between 0 and 100. Scores above 50 equate to expansion.

 
Transport ministers, representatives of the international bodies and financial institutions, along with the 350 delegates attending the IRU’s 6^th Euro-Asian Road Transport Conference (held in Tbilisi), have called on governments to “support the revitalisation of the former “Silk Road”. This support would “make use of the key multilateral instruments of the UN for the facilitation of exchanges and of international road transport and develop auxiliary services close to the roads in order to promote and facilitate trade and road transport operations on the Eurasian continent.”

VIALTIS recently finalized a contract with the Eurotunnel Group, the worldwide number one in Road Rail transport, in commercialisation of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link
 
This partnership allows VIALTIS to be in association with a strong brand, and strengthen its booking offer for the very sought after line  France <-> England by offering its customers the best solutions for the  cross-Channel link, and make real-time bookings.


Via Eurotunnel, dedicated Truck Shuttles carry up to 30 trucks in semi-open wagons.

• Trucks cross the strait on average in 90 min. ( from motorway to motorway) and can save  1-2 h  on the link.

• A shuttle runs every 10-15 minutes, depending on traffic intensity.

• The Channel Tunnel is operational 24/7, all the year round  and by all-weather.




For more information, please contact your sales representative VIALTIS-Transcamion

A working document from the European Commission sheds light on the difficulties of introducing a carbon tax at the borders of the European Union.

The introduction of a European CO2 tax is generating plenty of column inches. Some say it would help protect Europe’s economy, while others insist that countries with less strict environmental policies would gain a commercial advantage if Brussels was to adopt more stringent rules on emissions.
"The administrative costs of the collection of this tax are exorbitant, as the system requires a host of different rates that vary according to the products and countries concerned ", the Commission states. "There is also a risk of the plan triggering a commercial war. Rival economic powers, such as China, will not hesitate to take retaliatory steps."

The new Eurovignette Directive could be passed during Belgium’s European presidency in the second half of this year.
 
At least that is the suggestion of the environmental pressure group Transport & Environnement, and the Belgian government has indeed indicated its intention of getting this project back on the table.
 
The Eurovignette Directive governs the tolls and fees for HGVs using Europe’s roads. In its current incarnation, the directive only allows Member States to pass on infrastructural costs. They are not permitted to tax HGVs for external costs.