Big boom year for TIR truckers
Page 8
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• British TIR hauliers had a boom year in 1986, according to the latest Department of Transport figures. The tonnage of goods carried overseas by UK-registered vehicles rose by 8% from the 1985 level, while RO-RO traffic as a whole was up by 4%.
There was also a jump of 14% in the weight of goods carried back to the UK by those vehicles.
According to the DTp's annual survey of international road haulage, there was a 19% increase in the tonnekilometers moved by UKregistered vehicles, compared with 1985.
The department says that figure is a good measure of the work done by British hauliers. The increase reflects a higher volume of business due to increased trade with Spain and Portugal following their entry into the Common Market, and with Italy and West Germany.
Last year there was also a 40% increase in the availability of multi-lateral road haulage permits and a significant increase in their use.
El The dispute over the need to carry a carnet de passage for trailers and semi-trailers when entering France looks like being resolved. Following discussions between the DTp and the French authorities, the French now appear to have accepted the UK plating system in place of the carnet and from the beginning of 1988 UK trailer plates will be accepted as evidence of ownership.
The Road Haulage Association has welcomed the move, which it describes as a more realistic procedure, but says: "It is still more restrictive than in other European states."