P NEW CABOTAGE RULES
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'No registration numbers, no cabotage, urges FTA
WITH JUST OVER A week to go before new cabotage rules are introduced, the Freight Transport Association (FTA) is urging the government to prevent foreign operators from carrying out UK cabotage work if VOSA is not provided with their vehicles' registration details.
It says there is a "gaping hole" in a pan-European database being compiled for enforcement agencies that should be filled with vital registration details of foreign lorries (CM 25 March).
However, because other member states do not gather this information, the database will be largely useless to UK authorities.
FTA policy MD James Hookham says: would say that any weakening or stalling of this important enforcement provision substantially undermines the ac ceptabilly of any further cabotage extensions to the ETA and we would expect the Department for Transport [Dil] to stand firm on the principle, No registration numbers, no cabotage'."
Hookham explains: "Why should unidentified foreign trucks be allowed to enter the country at will and then compete aggressively for domestic business, without any contribution to the upkeep of the roads and running on law tax fuel, never mind VOSAs costs of enforcing against them, just because Continental governments can't be bothered to keep proper records?"
The DfT says the pre-election period prevents it from discussing if it will stop foreign lorries entering the country once the new cabotage rules begin on 14 May.