The phlegmatic Finns
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You think we have had some snow recently? That is nothing compared with Finland. But the Finns don't let a few feet of the white stuff stop them in their tracks they have more pressing transport issues, as our penultimate EuroWatch finds out... words I imailes: John Pagni
HAILING FROM one of Europe's most egalitarian countries. Finns take equality very seriously.
When it appears that some are being treated differently from others, even the normally phlegmatic Finnish trucker may he roused into voicing an opinion.
Being a large country with a small population and a good road network, congestion is rare.
After Vuosaari Harbour opened 15 months ago, replacing two Helsinki central docks with one located on the capital's edge, the last really serious bottleneck was removed.
Finnish ports also act as a conduit for Russian imports. For instance, more than two-thirds of vehicle imports (750.0(10 in 2007) head east on Russian transporters to the border and are a common sight on Finnish roads.
As are Baltic or Polish lorries, since all the main ports have frequent services to Estonia. Germany and Sweden, which form the main entry point for foreigners — and, of course. controversy.
"They use our roads for free, pay no taxes and are paid much less than Suomalaiset kus kit (Finnish drivers)," says driver Pekka Hartikka (pictured below left). Although Hartikka is only 46, he started driving just six years ago — and like most drivers here, got his HG V licence for free by studying for six months at a college (joining the military is another common way).
Government-funded courses include HGV driving, mechanics, IT, and studies covering national and EU transport rules and regulations.
An HGV driver's licence now costs a one-off lifetime payment of f60 (£53.86) with medical check-ups every five years once you hit a 'sprightly' 45.
Taking their work
Hartikka's opinions concerning central European drivers are broadly shared.
"They're active in a 600km arc from Helsinki," claims HAkan Stara (pictured right centre bottom), owner of StarCargo, which is based in Pietasaari on Finland's western coast.
He subcontracts for Schenker and UPS-SCS and sits on committees dealing with transport issues. -When Brussels introduced EU-wide road transport rules, it didn't equalise taxes or wages, which was OK when volumes rose — until last year," he says.
Before EU membership (Finland joined in 1995), Finnish drivers were
active in Germany and Sweden.Hartikka himself spent three years living with his new family in Lfibeck. delivering Finnish machinery to Italy and Spain and bringing back fruit and vegetables. "That was nice. I like their countryside, food and wine.he reminisces.
He retuned to Finland because his wife wanted to go back to work after giving birth to their first child.
However, 42-year driving veteran Timo Lein° reveals: "Finns delivered Finnish exports and imports when using foreign roads, but the Baits, Poles and Romanians are now doing export jobs and delivering domestically here too."
The 'grey' economy
Working for Stara. Hartikka picks up loads from harbour terminals, unloads import goods and takes exports for companies in greater Helsinki.
"If you're paid by the kilometre (average 0.25)," he says, "it's hard to make a living, so it must be hourly-paid (€12 to €15) or you have a minimum daily kilometre payment like me." The recession is thought to claim one transport business per day in Finland, so Hartikka is supplementing his income by taxi work. That said. he still gets home every evening, whereas in Germany, it was every weekend.
Cement-mix truck owner-driver Heikki 'Hessu' Suuronen is a typical flexible Finn: he drives freelance, mainly agricultural products, for local outfits when the building business goes into hibernation for the winter.
Hessu fumes about harmaatalous ( the 'grey' economy) where disreputable firms pay cash and no taxes or insurance, and go bankrupt when caught.
The owner pulls another firm out of his drawer and carries on," he says.
The Finnish employers' transport and logistics federation. SKAL, wants the authorities to clamp down on this.
-If a company owner has gone bankrupt for illegal activities, how is it possible for that same 'entrepreneur' to continue in business?"wonders chairman Ahti Myllys. • nR), FOR THE LATEST NEWS VISIT: miaroadtranspoPtron