The Road Haulage Association (RHA) has welcomed EU haulage revisions which tighten up the definition of cabotage. The Access to the Market Regulation now says operators will only be able to undertake three domestic loads in a period of seven days provided that the work is not permanent or continuous.
Since 1 April VOSA has had the power to
impose a £200 fixed penalty for unlawful cabotage offences. The EU has pledged to specify the evidence a driver will be required to carry in his cab as proof.
RHA director of policy Jack Semple comments: "At the moment in the UK there is the understanding that cabotage should not be frequent, regular or contracted, but it's very hard for VOSA to get evidence on who's doing unlawful cabotage. This clarification will make enforcement easier."
There will in future be a single CPC on both national and international operations under the new Access to the Profession Regulation, which is expected to come into force by January 2012.
An RHA statement reads: "The RHA is disappointed that this unnecessary burden has been imposed on purely domestic hauliers, many of which do not go outside their region, never mind member state."
However, it adds that the rights in respect of existing national CPC holders and those with 'grandfather rights' will remain.
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