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Corona: overview for road transport – update

ALL EUROPEAN GOVERNMENTS ARE TAKING ACTION TO LIMIT THE SPREAD OF THE CORONA VIRUS AND ENSURE THE DISTRIBUTION OF VITAL RESOURCES.

Below we have tried to bundle the main measures. (non-limiting overview updated until 31/03/2020 )

CLOSURE BORDERS

* More and more European countries are closing their borders or introducing border controls. Entry restrictions are usually only applicable to passenger transport and do not apply to goods transport.

The most recent overview of border restrictions and / or controls can be consulted via the link below:

Coronavirus in europe bans restrictions and health checks at the border

* However, the various measures are causing significant delays at various border posts. These waiting times can be followed in real time:

Real-time map with waiting times at European border crossings

* Update – Taking into account the many border controls and barriers this poses to freight traffic, the European Commission has, through an official communication, called on its Member States to take measures to ensure the smooth passage of border traffic.

To this end, the following measures are being taken by Member States:

  • All trucks and their drivers must be treated in the same and non-discriminatory manner. No distinction should be made according to the origin of the truck and its destination.
  • In the case of internal border controls, the main border crossing points (TEN-T network) should be designated as green lanes.
  • These green lanes must be open to all freight traffic, and therefore both heavy and light freight, regardless of the nature of the goods transported.
  • The total duration of crossing a border via these green lanes may take up to 15 minutes. In the event of saturation of the primary border crossings, additional – near – border crossings should be opened for freight transport only.
  • Border crossing procedures should be kept to a minimum in green lanes and simplified. Drivers may only be asked to provide an identity card and driving license, as well as, if necessary, a model statement from their employer (link). Electronic submission should be considered sufficient.
  • All national driving bans should be temporarily suspended.
  • No travel restrictions or quarantine measures should be imposed on drivers and employees who show no symptoms. Medical checks, if any, should in principle be based on electronic measurement of body temperature and should be performed in such a way that the driver does not have to leave the vehicle.

The Official Communication from the European Commission can be found here.

Update – To facilitate border traffic, the European Commission has published a model certificate for employees in international transport. The statement aims to make it easier for workers in international transport to cross border controls. This statement is available in all official languages ​​of the EU so that it can be provided depending on the country.

The employer certificate can be downloaded in the various languages ​​via: Appendix 3 (p. 9)

SPECIFIC SAFETY MEASURES TO LIMIT THE SPREAD

In various countries, additional conditions or guidelines apply to the transport of goods. The most important / notable are listed below (non-exhaustive):

* Update – A complete overview of all national measures taken by various national governments can be consulted via the EU or IRU.

Overview EU

International Road Union (IRU) overview

Belgium

* On 20 March, the social partners and the FPS WASO issued recommendations for the road transport sector to provide maximum protection for employees and customers. These are not mandatory measures, but it is of course preferable to take these guidelines to heart. The main recommendations are as follows:

General hygiene ë ne rules

  • Wash hands adequately with soap
  • The use of paper handkerchiefs that are thrown away every time and fail to sneeze into the inside of the elbow.
  • Respect the distance of 1.5m. In case of double crew, an advice from the occupational physician is recommended.
  • In case of illness, follow government guidelines and notify employer

Contact with third parties

  • Always respect the safety distance of 1.5 m
  • Payments digitally as much as possible. In case payment still needs cash, use disposable gloves and avoid direct contact with money
  • Where possible, make contact digitally
  • Clean common material sufficiently. Assign personal material where possible
  • In common areas (refters, etc.), seats are at least 1.5 m apart and at an angle. place each other
  • Limit simultaneous presence in small closed spaces as much as possible
  • Before signing, always your own writing materials and if necessary. use disposable gloves

Mobile work equipment

  • Thoroughly clean all relevant surfaces (supports, handlebars, door handles inside and outside …) and controls and knobs with suitable material
  • Ventilate vehicles sufficiently
  • In case of double crew, advice from the occupational physician is recommended, given the safety distance

The full press release can be found here:
Social partners joint statement

* A standard certificate has been provided by the Belgian government demonstrating the need to cross the border for work. The use of this certificate is not currently mandatory and should therefore not be presented during any check. However, the certificate may in certain cases facilitate border controls. The certificate can be downloaded from: Certificate demonstrating the need to cross the border for work

* If the rules of social distancing cannot be guaranteed, removals are prohibited until further notice.

France

* Double-crew transport operations are currently prohibited due to social distancing regulations.

* The usual driving bans for all vehicles with an MTM of more than 7.5 Tons were lifted until 20 April 2020

* In view of the lockdown in France, every driver must carry certificates justifying his journey. 2 model certificates are provided for this, for both employee and employer. In principle, the certificates are only valid for 1 day and must therefore always be renewed. These certificates are required at least until April 2, 2020 and can be consulted at: Attestation de deplacement derogatoire et justificatif de deplacement professionnel

* A stock of water, soap and disposable towels must be available in the truck and at the loading and unloading areas. If this is not possible, it may be replaced with hydroalcoholic gel.

* Access to loading and unloading areas must never be refused if the above items are present in the truck.

* The delivery and signing of transport documents must take place without contact between the various persons.

* The delivery must always take place at the place provided by the client as indicated in the transport documents.

* The recipient of the goods cannot be obliged to sign a document, regardless of the medium through which this must be done. The acceptance of the goods is thus deemed to have taken place, unless written complaint is made no later than 12 noon on the first working day after delivery. There can be a contractual deviation from this period.

* However, it should be noted that we believe this ‘implicit’ acceptance is contrary to the mandatory provisions of the CMR Convention, which may prevent it from being applicable to international transport, but only to national transport. in France

The decree can be found here: Arrêté 19/03/2020

Italy

* All movements and transportation are strictly limited to the delivery or collection of goods.

* In principle, drivers are not allowed to get out of the vehicles and must be equipped with protective and preventive medical devices such as disposable masks and (disposable) gloves.

* Transport documents must be sent electronically

* Loading and unloading should ideally be done by on-site personnel, where the driver avoids contact. If this is not possible, a safety distance of at least 1 meter must be ensured.

* Every driver must complete and have a statement with him. This statement must be presented in original (on paper) in Italian. (Since March 18 ’20, a new statement, which added an additional passage was where the driver does not explain placed under quarantine. The latest document can here be consulted, as well as an unofficial EN translation (Source TLN)

* Ideally, the transport should also be accompanied by a statement from the Italian consignor or consignee stating that these goods must be supplied as part of their production process

EXCEPTIONS DRIVING AND REST TIMES

Temporary exceptions are granted by the various authorities to driving and resting times.

Please note that these are always national exceptions issued by the various national states, each of which varies in scope per Member State. Caution is therefore advised.

As usual, it is advisable to note the reason for the deviation and the exception regime on the outprints of the tacho, in order to avoid any discussions about this in the event of a possible check.

Our neighboring countries are highlighted below. A complete, correct and current overview of all national exceptions within the EU can always be consulted via the following link: https://ec.europa.eu/transport/sites/transport/files/temporary-relaxation-drivers-covid.pdf

Belgium

* Increase weekly driving time from 56 to 60 hours and biweekly driving time from 90 to 96 hours.

* The possibility to postpone taking the weekly rest period, as it should normally be taken after 6 consecutive 24-hour periods. However, nothing is specified about the length of this delay.

However, these exceptions only apply to the transport of food, pharmaceuticals and other essential resources, with a view to supplying wholesalers and retailers and the proper functioning of the actors within the logistics chain. The measure is provisionally valid until March 31, 2020.

These exceptions only apply to the European regulations on driving and rest times and do not affect the Belgian working hours provisions, which remain unquestionably applicable.

Press release

* Update 31/03/20 – The above exceptions have been extended until April 30, 2020.

An additional exception was allowed, whereby the 45-hour weekend rest can be replaced by a shortened rest of 24 hours. However, like the previous exceptions, this only applies to specific transports of vital goods and medicines.

EU notification

* Update 31/03/20 In addition to the extension, it was decided that drivers can take their normal weekend rest (45 hours) in the cabin, provided that it is sufficiently equipped for this. In contrast to the other exceptions, no restriction is imposed here and this exception applies to all drivers who carry out (inter) national transport and take their weekly rest and Belgium.

EU notification

The Netherlands

* Increase daily driving time from 9am to 11am

* Increase weekly driving time from 56 to 60 hours and biweekly driving time from 90 to 96 hours.

* The obligation to take the weekly rest period after the end of 6 24-hour periods has been increased to 7

These exceptions only apply to professions that have been identified as critical. It therefore only concerns the national transport of: agricultural products and live animals, food and feed, petroleum and petroleum products, medicinal and pharmaceutical products, perfumery and cleaning products and waste and garbage. The measure is valid until April 6, 2020.

Press release

UK

* Increase daily driving time from 9am to 11am

* Reduction of the daily rest from 11 to 9 hours

* The obligation to take rest after a driving period of 4.5 hours has been increased to 5.5 hours

* Increase weekly driving time from 56 to 60 hours and biweekly driving time from 90 to 96 hours.

* The obligation to take the weekly rest period after the end of 6 24-hour periods has been increased to 7, specifying that within a period of two consecutive weeks, two normal weekly rest periods or one normal and one shortened weekly rest are still should be taken.

Attention: The increase of the daily driving time from 9 to 11 hours should not be combined with postponing the weekly rest, to ensure that the drivers take enough rest.

These exceptions apply to all transportation of food, other necessary non-food products (personal hygiene and cleaning) and medical and pharmaceutical products. However, the exception does not apply to direct deliveries to consumers. These exceptions will apply until 21 April 2020 for the time being.

Consult the full measure here: Temporary relaxation of the enforcement of the drivers hours rules all sectors carriage of goods by road

Germany

* Increase daily driving time from 9 to 10 hours, for a maximum of 5 days in a week

* The possibility to take 2 consecutive shortened weekly rest periods, provided that:

  • The driver takes at least 4 rests during this period of four consecutive weeks, of which at least 2 are a normal weekly rest and one
  • That the two shortened weekly rests are compensated before the next rest is taken.

These exceptions apply to all transport of food between production and wholesale and retail trade, medical and pharmaceutical products in the context of combating COVID-19 virus and fuels. These exceptions apply until April 17, 2020

Decision of the Bundesministerium

France

Update

* Increase daily driving time from 9 to 11 hours, this is limited to a maximum of 2x per week

* Increase weekly driving time from 56 to 60 hours and biweekly driving time from 90 to 102 hours.

These exceptions apply to all national and international transport of goods. These exceptions apply (provisionally) until April 19, 2020 .

Luxembourg

* Increase weekly driving time from 56 to 60 hours and biweekly driving time from 90 to 96 hours.

* The possibility to defer taking the weekly rest period, which should normally be taken after 6 consecutive 24-hour periods, is increased to 7.

These exceptions are valid until April 17, 2020.

TECHNICAL EXAMINATION

It was decided that the inspection stations will reopen from Wednesday 25 March 2020, albeit with limited access. In view of the circumstances, only inspections of commercial and transport vehicles, buses and priority vehicles will be permitted, as well as technical inspections.

For all other categories, for which the test certificate expired after March 13, 2020, the term will be extended by 4 months, after the lifting of the crisis measure.

The press release can be found here:
measure to extend corona virus test certificates and vehicle inspection centers

DRIVING LICENSES AND PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE

* Update – Flemish Minister of Mobility Lydia Peeters has taken measures by ministerial decree for driving licenses or certificates of professional competence that expire during the current corona crisis.

  • All driving license exams and basic qualification qualifications are suspended until further notice.
  • The period of validity of all certificates of competence (code 95) that expire during the period of the corona measures are automatically extended by 4 months. This extension will take effect on the day following the (yet to be determined) end date of the emergency measures.
  • If the certificate of professional competence expires in the period of the Corona measures, the term for continuing training will also be extended by 4 months from the day following the end of the emergency measures.
  • Persons subject to an extension will have priority when making a new appointment after the measures have ended.

Emergency measures deciding on mobility and public works

ADR

* Update – All courses and exams in the context of ADR have been suspended for an indefinite period. This for both drivers and safety advisers. To avoid issues related to renewal of the ADR certificates that expire between March 1, 2020 and November 1, 2020 are automatically extended until November 30, 2020.

  • For drivers, the certificate will be renewed for 5 years if it is demonstrated that the refresher course has been completed before 1 December 2020 and has passed the exam. this renewal will be valid for 5 years, however, counting from the time of expiry of the previous certificate.
  • The extension for safety advisers will be done if it is demonstrated that the exam was successfully completed before 1 December 2020.

This extension was established by UN multilateral agreement M324 . This has already been signed to date (31/03/2020) by Luxembourg, Germany, Austria, Norway, France, Ireland, San Marino, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Switzerland, UK, Slovenia, Spain, Slovakia, Greece, Belgium, Italy, Latvia, Hungary, Romania, Sweden, Poland and Portugal.

* Update – Also regarding the periodic or intermediate inspection or inspection of tanks, a multilateral UN agreement has been drawn up with measures to extend:

  • Periodic or intermediate inspections of tanks whose validity is likely to expire between March 1, 2020 and August 1, 2020 are automatically extended until August 30, 2020. In that case, inspections must be carried out before September 1, 2020. The same applies, of course, for the validity of the inspection documents. .

the agreement has already been signed to date (31/03/2020) by Luxembourg, Norway, France, Germany, Austria, San Marino, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Slovenia, Spain, Slovakia, Greece, Belgium, Italy, Hungary, Sweden, and Portugal.

* An up-to-date list of the Member States that have signed the agreement is available on the UNECE website