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On 20 May, CLECAT participated in an event organised by the French Presidency in Paris, to discuss social rights, technological challenges, and environmental issues in road transport. Speakers from the institutions and the sector emphasised that a proper enforcement and implementation of the new rules on road transport introduced by the First Mobility Package were essential to ensure a fairer single market and improved social rights for drivers.

Opening the first panel, Karima Delli, Chair of the EP’s TRAN Committee recognised the essential role of truck drivers in delivering goods, especially during the COVID crisis. She rightly pointed to the fact that the structural shortage of drivers could jeopardise the good functioning of supply chains in the near future. Kristian Schmidt, Director of Land transport in DG MOVE recalled that the proper implementation of the new rules on driving and rest times, cabotage and posting, could support in improving the social conditions of drivers. He therefore called on Member States to fully implement and enforce these rules. Despite the fact that more than 5.5 million posting declarations have been submitted on the EU single portal, a majority of Member States have not yet transposed the Directive on posting of drivers, which might lead to discrepancies in its enforcement throughout the EU. Frederico Pancaldi, Head of Unit Information and EURES at the European Labour Authority noted that in addition to uniform enforcement of the rules in the EU, it is crucial that road hauliers have access to basic information, such as the remuneration of drivers in each Member State.

The second panel was dedicated on the technological innovations and environmental challenges in road transport. The development of automated technologies and the need to decarbonise road transport activities induce two major transformations to the road haulage sector. It was noted that automation has the potential to create net job growth, if combined with regulatory changes and upskilling. There was also debate on the acceptance of the introduction of automation in the road logistics supply chain. It was considered important to introduce testing platforms and dialogue with social partners. Discussing the challenges for the road freight sector to decarbonise, reference was made to the very high investments costs of electric trucks and the risk of energy supply shortages. Amid greater energy insecurity and a growing imbalance between fuel supply and demand, some road haulier representatives expressed the need for all low and zero alternative and existing fuels to remain in operational use. In view of the challenges of the sector, governments should review decarbonisation policies carefully to plan a more gradual shift to renewable fuels, beyond battery electric vehicles.  Speakers from the sector called on the EU and Member States to support the sector decarbonise its activities with proper regulatory and financial incentives.