RHA considers conduct code for international hauliers
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TRHA international group is conside working agreement and code of conduct formed to prepare a draft.
The sub-committee has been informed that Dutch and German hauliers have formed special working groups to deal with container traffic coming into Europe from the USA. Object is to strengthen the carriers in
negotiating rates with the shipping lines and also to standardize conditions of contract.
International members feel that other groups of the Association, particularly the long-distance, should take note of this form of co-operation which might well be suitable for adoption by British carriers handling similar traffic.
The considerable development of international transport has brought into much greater prominence the carrier's liabilities under CMR. Members state that they have been involved in the Continental law courts in connection with claims arising from semi-trailer traffic, and the courts have ruled that they are bound by CMR conditions despite the fact that their own conditions of carriage make no reference to the Convention.
Attention has also been drawn to the liabilities under CMR of sub-contractors towing semitrailers. Here again it is thought that domestic members of the RHA engaged in towing semitrailers to and from roll-on/roll-off ports should take careful note of this aspect of the Convention, consulting their insurers where necessary.
Attention has been drawn to the steady decline in the standard of documentation in TIR procedure among British hauliers. This is causing concern since it entails more work and expense for the RHA. It is hoped that all members will make a special effort to ensure that their TIR departments show a greater standard of efficiency.