A slew of tough regulations covering road transport operators throughout the EU has been drafted by the European Commission. The Brussels proposals include:
Requiring every would-be operator to employ a transport manager with a clean record and proof of professional competence to maintain an office and operating centre and to provide proof of financial standing
Restricting cabotage (moving freight inside a foreign country) to no more than three jobs within seven days - and only
if it follows an international delivery
Cracking down on fraud with "mutual recognition" of serious offences between countries by the end of 2010, so a loss of licence in one state would apply throughout the EU
Banning self-employed drivers from using the transport manager of any company for which they act as subcontractors
Requiring every EU member government to enforce the drivers' hours rules rigorously.
European Parliament sources say the EC plan is unlikely to encounter major opposition and could be approved by the end of the year.
