Holding back truck drivers

Why self-employed lorry drivers should not be subject to new working-time rules.

In June, by a small majority, the European Parliament voted in favour of the inclusion of self-employed lorry drivers in the scope of the  2002 directive on the organisation of the working time of persons performing mobile road-transport activities (“MEPs dismiss working-time exemption for truck drivers”, 16-23 June).

Advocates of the inclusion had cited road safety as the main reason. However, there are already two strong measures to guarantee road safety: the tachograph and the vital need for the self-employed to keep their operating licence.

The European Commission proposal aimed to exclude self-employed lorry drivers from a directive that rigorously restricts working hours. Certain MEPs have now set a dangerous precedent in interfering in the manner in which the self-employed organise their working time.

This vote is the last thing wanted by a road-haulage industry that is already suffering from over-regulation, high fuel prices and the recession.

The vote will endanger one-person businesses. This will result in a loss in company formations, a regrettable development because it is well recognised that the majority of today’s road-haulage companies started as sole traders.

We therefore urge the Commission to stand firm, to return this issue in an amended form to the Parliament, and to ask those MEPs who have a different view to think again.

 

From:

John Walker

National chairman, Federation Small Businesses

 

Tina Sommer

President, European Small Business Alliance

 

Tom Antonissen

Secretary-general, European Confederation of Equipment  Distributors

Click Here: Cheap FIJI Rugby Jersey