DOT says 1% of foreign HMIs are on cabotage
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• Less than 1% of all journeys conducted by foreign trucks in the UK are engaged in cabotage, according to Transport Minister Lord Macdonald.
Speaking at the Freight Transport Association (FTA) annual dinner last week, Macdonald said the figure was based on the preliminary results of a cabotage survey carried out in January and February. The final results of the survey, which has targeted drivers of 1,000 foreign-registered vehicles, are expected to be revealed within the next week.
Drivers were stopped at the Ashford truckstop and asked about their journeys into, out of and within the UK. They were also asked how they had picked up any cabotage work and about their consignments and dates of delivery. The FTA says it believes
"the government is playing a fairly straight battle" but spokesman Geoff Dossetter adds: "It doesn't really matter how small the figures are—the point is that it (cabotage) is going on and it is very influential on rates."
Road Haulage Association national chairman John Bridge criticises the survey for focusing on one location and for failing to measure British international hauliers, "who themselves have a competitive advantage".
He warns: "At Felixstowe, 26% of loads were given to Dutch hauliers in just one day."
• Macdonald has acknowledged the "growing Importance of East European drivers and operators", and says it is 'a major issue for UK and international industry" which will be made more difficult by the European single market and the proposed enlargement of the EU.