ESTA is studying carefully new proposals from the European Commission on improving the efficiency and environmental impact of the transport sector – including abnormal transport.
They were contained in the Greening Transport Package and revision of the Weights and Dimensions Directive on road transport – 96/53/EC – unveiled by Brussels last week.
The wide-ranging set of documents included measures to improve and simplify the authorisation process for abnormal load transports along with action to reduce the transport sector's CO2 emissions by 90 per cent.
ESTA Director Ton Klijn said, "These are serious and detailed proposals and they merit a considered response.
"My first impression is there are signs of a real commitment by the Commission to finally address the ‘red tape’ in abnormal transport permitting – but we have to be careful as this is a proposal and it still has to pass both the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers."
IRU – the International Road Transport Union of which ESTA is a member – said that the European Commission has come forward with proposals on issues that have concerned the road freight transport sector for many years.
As well as the issue of permits for abnormal and heavy transport, it addresses the 44 tonnes gross vehicle weight for cross-border transports with standard vehicles [as well as any vehicle used in combined and multimodal transport]; increased weight and length derogations for zero-emission vehicles; the cross-border use of the European Modular Concept; and the alignment of loaded length for vehicle logistics.
