French win on points after blockade action
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• The French Government has caved into hauliers' demands for changes to its driver licence endorsement scheme.
When the scheme was announced in July French hauliers mounted a crippling blockade. British operators whose vehicles were trapped by the dispute are still fighting for compensation. But the French truck drivers have won their demand.
While French car drivers will lose their licences if they incur six penalty points, truck drivers will be allowed 12. Their excuse is that as they cover more miles than car drivers they are bound to incur more points, which would put their licences — and their jobs — at risk.
French transport minister Jean-Louis Bianco is also prepared to raise the motorway speed limit by 101un to 90kinfh for trucks fitted with anti-lock braking systems.
The drivers' unions are still not satisfied. They want further concessions on the licensing system with improvements to their working conditions and the regulations governing sub-contracting. But a one-day haulage strike called for 30 September failed to attract much support.