Foreign trucks set to flood Britain's roads as Brussels passes new law

[Sweetpea]

European truck drivers are set to swarm on to Britain’s roads because of new competition laws passed in Brussels.
Foreign lorries are currently banned from acquiring fresh business in the UK once they have delivered their loads here, except in exceptional circumstances.

But a new regulation, passed by the EU Parliament last month, will let European hauliers take on three more British jobs before returning home within a week.
This will rise to seven jobs by 2010, and by 2014 the new law will allow them unlimited access to UK markets – both in the number of jobs and the time it takes to do them.

As overseas hauliers use cheaper fuel and unregulated labour, particularly from Eastern Europe, British operators claim they will be unable to compete.

Experts believe that the move will cost the British economy an estimated £165million and cause hundreds of small hauliers to close.
Shadow Transport Secretary Theresa Villiers said: ‘Britain’s motorways are already stretched to breaking point without even more congestion from hundreds more foreign trucks pouring off the ferries from Europe.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1023386/Foreign-trucks-set-flood-Britains-roads-Brussels-passes-new-law.html


Don't you just love being part of this wonderful European Union?

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

‘Britain’s motorways are already stretched to breaking point without even more congestion from hundreds more foreign trucks pouring off the ferries from Europe.

A lot of them are f'kin dangerous drivers too..

It's not so much the EU that's doing this but the current government. The primary overhead in what is one of the most competitive industries already, is fuel, and we pay more duty than any other country in the EU already, particularly on Diesel.

Someone once told me that the EU stamps out Directives on a daily basis, and that Britain enforces more of them than any other state, Not sure how true that is, but there you go.

[Sweetpea]

The current government and EU go hand in hand. We should get rid of BOTH!

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

The current government and EU go hand in hand. We should get rid of BOTH!

Well we will have our opportuntiy sometime in the next year or so, Autumn 2009 I guess. Lets see if the Tories are prepared to put their money where their mouth is in terms of pulling away from the EU as promised. I can see the HRA going out the window as they will bring in a new Bill of Rights. The only way they can make that stick is if the cede from the EHRA. You heard it here first.

[terrywit]

Originally Posted by churchill

A lot of them are f'kin dangerous drivers too...

lol, they like to turn right on roundabouts onto king george dock, east bound from the left hand lane, seen the aftermath a few time, glass, bumper across the road, back tyre marks as the car pushed side ways into to armoco,

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

The current government and EU go hand in hand. We should get rid of BOTH!

I am, surprise, surprise, in agreement with you on this point.

But be careful you do not throw the bastard out with the bath water.

[poppy]

they wont stay around too long at a time with the price of fuel here, as soon as their tanks are empty they will be of back across the channel to fill up. They will then come back and start again, so they never hit the limit on any single visit.

That's a good point Poppy. Damned if they do, damned if they don't.

[terrywit]

Originally Posted by poppy

they wont stay around too long at a time with the price of fuel here, as soon as their tanks are empty they will be of back across the channel to fill up. They will then come back and start again, so they never hit the limit on any single visit.

allsorts of sharp pratice will happen due to the inbalance in full duty & road tax, you find the trailer belly tanks being pumped into storage to advoid duty, beening pumped into wagons which are staying here to work ?

Originally Posted by terrywit

allsorts of sharp pratice will happen due to the inbalance in full duty & road tax, you find the trailer belly tanks being pumped into storage to advoid duty, beening pumped into wagons which are staying here to work ?

not to mention the good old parafin trick.