Italian permits: after the drought comes the flood
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• Up to 4,600 extra bilateral pemits for Italian journeys should result from this week's meeting of the British/Italian joint committee on Transport.
The two sides have agreed to an increase of 1,000 bilateral permits above the current 18,000, but other detailed agreements could release a further 2,600 bilateral permits onto the market.
Most important of these agreements is the decision to remove unaccompanied trailers from the category of vehicles requiring bilateral permits. Caroline Trewhitt of the PTA says this change alone could release 2,000 permits.
The committee has also agreed to lower the exchange rate of return permits for annual permits. At present international hauliers have to exchange 30 return permits for one annual bilateral permit. When these changes are brought into effect, probably in June, the exchange rate will be lowered to 25 return permits for one bilateral permit, adding a further 600 bilateral permits.
The joint committee has also agreed on an increase of 1,000 permits under the cooperation quota, by which British and Italian operators can exchange loads.
El Next week the joint UK'German transport committee will meet to discuss bilateral permits between the two countries.