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Hauliers worried about EU drivers' hours plans
Page 14
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A survey of 500 West Midlands hauliers has revealed massive concern over changes to the EU drivers' hours regs. David Harris reports.
EUROPEAN PROPOSALS to tighten the drivers' hours regulations would put such extreme pressure on smaller hauliers that some could be forced to close, a recent survey suggests.
The survey. commissioned by Conservative Euro MP Philip Bradbourn, questioned 500 hauliers in the West Midlands.
The latest Et: proposals include making it compulsory for drivers to take a 45-hour break in any twoweek period.
PeterJarrett,the consultant who carried out the survey, explains that the changes were largely seen as "more red tape for no real purpose". He adds that small firms would be unable to afford staff to cope with the paperwork.
'It's clear that this added burden could result in more small companies closing:' he adds.
Many of the hauliers surveyed also said that they were concerned that the "monitoring of rest periods was not carried out by many foreign operators and that there was evidence of [foreign] drivers grossly exceeding the legal driving periods".
The survey is said to have confirmed the widespread belief among 1.1K operators that foreign drivers can break the hours regulations with impunity.
Jarrett reports: "Most of our respondents criticised Eastern European — particularly Polish — operators who, they claimed, simply ignore most of the current European Directives."
UK operators working abroad say roadside checks are less frequent, less rigorous and, in some countries. non-existent.
Overall, the survey concluded that hauliers were pessimistic about the future.
"The present mood among freight operators is one of consid: erable gloom,Jarrett concludes. "Many said they had become progressively less competitive
over recent years."