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Registration of TIR Trailers , a Problem for Discussion
Page 48
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FROM A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
A MEETING of the I.R.U. group ot TIR experts, at which both the Road Haulage Association and the Traders Road Transport Association were represented, was held yesterday (Thursday) in Geneva. A main item of the business due to be discussed concerned the possible tightening up of security measures, in connection with the issue and control of TIR carnets, in the light of recent increases in smuggling. Also down for consideration at Geneva were recommendations by the E.C.E. Group of Customs Experts on the problem of Customs identification of TIR trailers which were not registered.
This E.C.E. Group considered the matter recently at its 21st Session, when it was pointed out that in certain countries semi-trailers were not subject to separate registration and carried the registration number of the towing vehicle. In some cases this presented a problem regarding identification for Customs purposes of the particular trailer, especially where el trailer was presented to a Customs office of departure and the registration number Jf the towing vehicle was not known.
Fleet or Chassis' Numbers The Customs experts were apparently of the view that this difficulty arises with reference to Anglo/Dutch and Anglo/ Belgian transport' operations, and also in connection with combined road/rail transport where the trailer is picked up at the end of its land or sea journey by a tractor belonging to a different haulier. It is questionable, however, whether the Customs experts are in touch with current practice, as in the majority of cases the TIR carnets issued in the United Kingdom state the fleet number and/or chassis number of the trailer as a means of identification, and this appears to have worked satisfactorily to date.
Until the Convention is revised, the following solutions were adopted at the meeting in Geneva:—
The statement " unregistered trailer" should be included in paragraph 7 of the front cover of the TIR carnet covering the trailer or semi-trailer which is not registered by the country of origin.
It was further agreed that where the semi-trailer is carried over part of its journey by a different method of transport (for example, sea or rail) TIR plates must be placed on the front and rear of the semi-trailer, the front plate being affixed high enough to be perfectly visible.
A particularly active part in the discussions was played by the I.R.U. delegation under the chairmanship of M. Van Aken, and valuable contacts were made between the I.R.U. representatives and the Customs experts of the various n14 countries. The opportunity was taken to emphasize the need for certain Customs posts to remain open day and night on the most important routes.
Although the French delegation would make no concrete undertaking, it would appear that they were prepared to give the question serious consideration. The German and Belgium Customs are prepared to institute measures of the type desired by I.R.U. along their frontiers with France. The I.R.U. delegation also raised the question of the Italian Customs' refusal to grant exemption from payment of duties and taxes in cases where the consignment has been destroyed as a result of force ma/cure. This exemption is authorized by article 16 of the TER Convention, but the Italian Customs have so far refused to implement it. As a result of the I.R.U. representations, the Italian Customs delegation stated that its administration was now prepared to consider cases of this kind.
General approval was given to a proposal to extend the Convention to sheeted containers, although it was decided that the views of the TIR Insurance Pool Should be sought before reaching a final decision. On the question of the type of containers covered by the Convention, it was understood that there was no likelihood of broadening the scope of the Convention to include containers which were not carried on road vehicles throughout their journey.
By-pass for Wall Village: The Minister of Transport has authorized Staffordshire County Council to accept a tender amounting to £310,842 for the construction of a by-pass for the village of Wall on the London-Holyhead trunk road (A5).