Italian reefer plans
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by Brian Weatherley
,HAULIERS using ATP Class C registered thin-wall refrigerated vehicles into Italy must sign a three-part declaration governing their strict use, a conference was told on Tues. day.
Details of the declaration and on the Italian ban (CM, May 25) on thin-wall refrigerated vehicles (those with lateral walls of less than SOmm) were revealed by York Trailer technical sales manager Keith Buckby, when he spoke at the. Refrigerated Road Transport Conference in London.
The Italian authorities propose to make amendments to the ATP agreement governing the type of vehicles used for the international transport of perishable foodstuffs.
This would create a separate class for thin-wall vehicles which would require special testing and certification.
Italy is concerned that thin wall vehicles may not protect frozen goods in hot climates.
Although no amendments could come into effect before May 1986, Italy says that until then thin-wall vehicles will only be admitted into the country if the driver or owner signs a three-part document.
It states that chilled air must be distributed over the whole length of the load by ducts located in the roof (for vehicles with an internal length greater than 8m).
All direct contact between the cargo and the lateral walls must be avoided by using a fixed or removable frame.
The refrigerated unit must also operate continuously, and be set at the minimum ther mostat temperature.
The final part of the declaration states that if an operator makes a false declaration the "provision laid down in Article Four, paragraph 2b of the ATP agreement shall apply." CM understands that this would mean the withdrawal of the vehicle's ATP registration, and a ban on its movement.
The Department of Transport is currently considering the implications of the Italian ban and the proposed amendments are being discussed by working groups of the UN Economic Commission for Europe's inland transport committee in Geneva.
Copies of the DTp letter will go to all known British operators of.thib-wall refrigerated vehicles, and to manufacturers and trade associations_