A new set of rules under the Mobility Package 1 of the European Union (EU) took effect on 21 February 2022.
Conceived with the purpose of safeguarding the interests of the industry and the drivers, the initiative also aims to ensure the safety, sustainability, and social fairness of the European road transport system. Considering that the growth of the road freight markers is expected to increase even further, it is vital that the needs of the freight sector and its players are addressed adequately. From reporting border crossings to cabotage limitations, the new rules are going to transform how the industry operates.
Tachograph Regulation
On 2 February 2022, it became mandatory for all border crossings to be reported on the digital tacograph. Drivers can also manually record the crossing at the border or the first possible stop. The objective of the directive is to effectively control the provisions in the package related to posted drivers and cabotage. Failure to comply with the rules taken will be subject to a fine. The rules are valid until the implementation of a new generation of intelligent tachographs that will be installed in each new vehicle that will automatically record each border crossing. From 21 August 2023, all new vehicle registrations are going to be fitted with a mandatory smart tachograph 2.0.
Tachographs not only log in entries or departures, but they also document information about driving time, speed, and distance making sure that drivers follow current rules and regulations. For example, EU rules dictate that a driver must not be on the road more than 9 hours per day, 56 hours per week, and 90 hours in any 2 consecutive weeks. In addition, chauffeurs must use a rest period of 45 hours per week, and breaks of at least 45 minutes after no more than 4 hours of driving. It is mandatory to take a weekly rest after 6 consecutive 24-hour periods. Rest periods shall also be taken up in suitable, gender-friendly accommodation and not in truck cabins.
Wages, Cabotage Limitations, and Shorter Intervals
The mobility package includes the driver’s right to obtain the minimum wage of the country they are working in for cabotage. Although this is a tricky matter, as in theory, drivers are always crossing borders, rules can only be implemented properly if all countries set a level of remuneration in transport. An obligation for the vehicle to return to the country where the company is headquartered once every 8 weeks or the driver once every 4 weeks is also part of the provisions in line with the move to dissuade so-called letterbox companies from operating. These businesses are typically based in cheaper countries but operate in another nation. There is also the matter of cooling-off period which limits the deliveries a foreign trucker can make within another county. They are only allowed 3 such jobs in 1 week and won’t be allowed to return for extra work during a 4-day cooling-off period.
If all goes well and if companies can organise their schedules, the mobility package 1 can improve the living and working conditions of transport workers. Equal pay, connected tachographs, cabotage limitations, and truck returns are the highlights of the transport sector reforms.
