A proposal from the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) will complement the scope of the International Road Transport Union’s (IRU’s) position, to take into account the increased use of small electric vehicles for urban delivery. As Europe prepares for Brexit, the advice is universal. In order to prepare effectively for Brexit, Dutch stakeholders involved in Brexit, including the Dutch Association for Transport & Logistics (TLN) have informed the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) about the launch of a mini-campaign to inform the public of the procedures for transport to the United Kingdom from 1 January 2021.
Update of Driving Categories
Follow up of the IRU’s Commission on Social Affairs (CAS) meeting: Proposal from IRU’s road haulage member association in Ireland, the IRHA, to complement the scope of IRU’s position, to take into account the increased use of small electric vehicles for urban delivery.
- BACKGROUND
For a background and summary of IRU’s position, please refer to IRU document CAS/BR7051 of 10 August 2020.
At the meeting of IRU’s Commission on Social Affairs (CAS), held on 9 September 2020, the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) submitted a proposal to slightly adapt the EU driver categories A and AM. IRHA proposed to include in these categories electric cargo bikes and small electric delivery vans, which are increasingly used in green urban delivery. This would establish an early entry point to the driver’s profession for young people who could later become fully-fledged professional truck or bus and coach drivers, thus alleviating driver shortage whilst facilitating green urban mobility.
In addition, the IRHA proposed adding to the IRU position a request to allow 17-year olds to start professional truck driver vocational training so that they can take the exam and begin driving as soon as they turn 18.
At the meeting, the CAS supported the IRHA proposals and requested the IRU Secretariat to circulate the proposals and their reasoning to CAS, CTP and CLTM members in writing, asking them whether they would support them.
Brexit updates from The Netherlands
Digital pre-notification of Customs documents will be mandatory at all ferry terminals and most short-sea terminals. Without this pre-notification, trucks will not be allowed to enter the ferry terminal and will be diverted to parking areas.
Attached is information in English and German and details on the YouTube video channel on how transport to the United Kingdom will work from 1 January 2021.
Details of the Dutch website with information on Brexit:
o English: https://www.getreadyforbrexit.eu/en/
o German: https://www.getreadyforbrexit.eu/de/
- The YouTube video in both languages:
o English: https://youtu.be/4Ip0mpP11q4
o German: https://youtu.be/o5BYDKSK8X0
- A short outline of the five steps to be taken:
o English: https://www.getreadyforbrexit.eu/en/brexit-in-5-steps/
o German: https://www.getreadyforbrexit.eu/de/der-brexit-in-5-schritten/