Brussels. After long negotiations EU member states have agreed on Dezember 4, 2018 on new regulations for resttime for international truck drivers.

The ban for truck drivers on sleeping in the cabin decided by the EU transport ministers applies – unlike shortly before announced – only for the weekly resttime. “In order to ensure adequate working conditions for drivers, the weekly rest period must be spent outside the cabine,” reads the press release published Tuesday by the EU Council. For the rest of the nights the truck drivers are allowed to sleep in the cabin.

“There is an absolute cabin sleep ban throughout the European Union harmonizing without exceptions”, Austria’s Transport Minister Norbert Hofer (FPÖ) had said after the meeting in Brussels. However, a spokeswoman for the EU Council made clear to the German Press Agency (dpa) that this applies only to the weekly rest period, not for the overnight stay after a regular shift.

A total ban would not work.

This regulation concerns about 2 million long distance truck drivers. The new regulation will call for more safe and secure truck parkings since the driver has to leave his vehicle unprotected in a parking area.

ESPORG (European Secure Parking Organization) and its project partners are preparing to conclude a one-year long study aimed at defining common standards for safe and secure truck parking areas, to step up the development of this infrastructure across the EU. 
 
The final event dedicated to this joint effort, organized on November 6, 2018 by the European Commission, was the final opportunity for stakeholders to provide feedback and input, including a new comfort and security related standard for truck parking areas. The aim is to modernize the existing LABEL standard and to seek further alignment of the certification processes for truck parking areas in the EU. As a member of the advisory board which overviewed the project for the European Commission, UICR has been closely involved in this study which will be published by the end of the year. 

Ralph Meyer, who representedUICR in the advisory board, said at the final conference, “If we want toattract young professionals and especially women drivers, we need to offer themadequate working conditions. They deserve more safety and better services.” TheEU and Governments should give much stronger priority to tackling cargo crimewhich costs €6-7 billion annually to the European economy. But that is not thewhole story. Ralph Meyer concludes, “behind every attack there is a driver whosuffers and with him/her the whole family”. UICR will welcome the integrationof this new EU truck parking certification standard in the EU legislation as anincentive not only to establish more truck parking areas, but also to ensurethat drivers benefit from safe and comfortable rest places.

Several intersting videos to watch:
>>> Parking at Kalken, Belgium
>>> Parking at Lugoj, Romania
>>> Parking at Beziers, France
>>> Parking at Barcelona, Spain

PROGRAMME FOR THE FINAL CONFERENCE ON 6 NOVEMBER 2018