EUROPE
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Double standards • in Scandinavia
The Danish road haulage association has written to Norway's Prime Minister Kaare Minch urging him to end tariffs which Danish heavy goods vehicle operators have to pay on entering Norway, reports the March edition of Lastbilen. The association claims that double standards are being applied. Although the Norwegian government has said that Norwegian hauliers should likewise be subject to Danish tariffs when they run to their Scandinavian neighbour, that reciprocal principle is not applied to other countries. According to the Danish hauliers, lorries from Yugoslavia, Romania, Hungary, the Soviet Union, Italy, Spain and West Germany are all able to use Norway's roads tariff-free. Denmark's finance minister has already approached the Norwegian government with a proposal to allow hauliers of each country to drive in the other tax-free, but limited by quota. This is acknowledged by the Danish association to be a step in the right direction, but it hopes eventually to see an end to haulage tariff barriers between the two countries.
Tilt that load •How does a haulier transport a 7.5 metres wide catamaran along a route where, at one point between two houses, the gap is only 6.5 metres wide? Trans-yachting of St Maio, reports L'Officiel des Transporteurs, April 17, secures the load with double clapets and tilts it 45 degrees hydraulically. This 10-vehicle operator has doubled its business in 10 years.
• Foreign haulage companies whose vehicles were trapped in the recent Greek drivers' strike are being advised that they have a case for compensation against the Greek Authorities. Commercial Motor, May 3.
IIPHH, the vehicle fleet management group which controls the All Star fuel card system, reports the Financial Times, May 2, plans to launch its first venture on continental Europe this year. Deputy managing director Nick Suddaby points out that the larger vehicle population there includes 7.5 million commercial vehicles.
• British Telecom is promoting the use of the international toll-free phone system by international hauliers. For example, a toll-free call arrangement for receiving calls from West Germany is £50 a month rental plus 42p a minute back to base. Commercial Motor, May 3.
111The number of bilateral general quota permits for UK hauliers running into West Germany has been increased. Commercial Motor, May 3.