DOT talks to Germans about
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East Europe driver invasion
• by Karen Miles
Department of Transport officials will meet their German counterparts next month to discuss the invasion of the European Union by hauliers from eastern Europe.
The transport ministry at Bonn requested the meeting because of the increasing number of eastern European countries requesting bilateral permits with Germany. These allow Bulgarian hauliers limited access to internal EU work as well as
movements in and out of Germany. The DOT also wants assurances from the Germans that the operation of one of its largest hauliers, Willi Betz, is totally legal.
In a letter received by the DOT this week, the German ministry says the collapse of the Russian economy seems to have triggered demand from hauliers in other eastern European states for greater access to German and internal EU markets.
Germany, which currently holds the EU presidency, wants to discuss this issue: it is likely to want to protect the livelihoods of EU hauliers. Eastern European hauliers are accused of undercutting their EU colleagues by at least 20%; it is thought that they can hire two drivers for the cost of one EU-based driver.
The correspondence follows a DOT request last month for clarification over the operations of Willi Betz. Some UK hauliers have alleged that Betz is using Bulgarian trucks and drivers for large numbers of journeys within the EU; they have asked for confirmation that this work is covered by international agreements.
The German ministry failed to answer this query in its letter but the DOT will use the meeting to ask the Germans if they are satisfied Betz has the necessary permits.
An agreement between Germany and Bulgaria allowing Bulgarian hauliers limited access to traffic between Germany and other countries in and out of the EU came into effect at the beginning of the year. This grants the Bulgarians 200 permits a year.
Betz has told CM that its operation is completely legal. The Stuttgart-based giant has 120 customers in the UK, including Kodak and Procter & Gamble.
• The Vehicle Inspectorate and police are to crack down on British hauliers who use illegal eastern European drivers.
Over the past two weeks dozens of hauliers have contacted the VI in response to its request for the names of domestic operators suspected of using cut-price non-EU drivers.
Up to 25 hauliers have been reported: next week VI and police representatives will attempt to pool intelligence on the named firms. This data will then be passed on to police and VI in the regions for local enforcement. Bill Newberry, acting senior traffic examiner for London, is coordinating the VI's work.
In December the Department of Transport confirmed that British-registered trucks must be driven by EU citizens. There have been increasing complaints that UK international hauliers are suffering because some firms are cutting their rates by employing cheap, illegal labour.
in To report the use of non-EU drivers, contact Bill Newberry on 0181 807 5445.