The EU Mobility Package aims to promote fair competition in the transport sector, harmonize legislation within the industry and contribute to road safety through regulation. Its purpose is also to improve the working conditions of truck drivers in the European Union.
The initial regulations of the Mobility Pack have been in force already since 2020. Under the rules, truck drivers are not allowed to spend their mandatory rest period in the vehicle, but the employer must provide and pay for appropriate accommodation and social facilities. In addition, the drivers must be able to return to their home countries once a month.
More regulations will come into force in 2022. For example, drivers’ movements must be registered in the European Union’s internal market information system. By 2025, the requirements for tachographs for freight units to monitor the length of shifts of drivers will also be tightened. Vans weighing more than 2.5 tons will be covered by the standards, which could affect international express transport.
Changes will also be made to cabotage regulations governing domestic transport by a foreign-registered vehicle. The vehicle should return to the country where it is registered once in eight weeks. The section on cabotage rules, which defines how many loading or unloading places a vehicle can have, is still somewhat unclear and transports companies and industry organizations are currently investigating it.
It is expected that the changes in the rules will cause a shortage of drivers and affect the availability of equipment and transport costs in Europe. We will inform our customers when we know more about the impact of the Mobility Package.
More information:
European Commission – Mobility Package Questions and Answers