Since Wednesday, the largest national strike of carriers has been taking place, and truck drivers are mass blocking Warsaw roads. Home entrepreneurs request the removal of harmful regulations and withdrawal from Poland of east dense goods companies threatening the competitiveness of the Polish transport sector.
Polish transport manufacture threatened by anti-competitive regulations
The value of Polish road transport exceeds PLN 140 billion today. 1 million drivers in 125,000 companies account for 85% of Polish exports, make 6% of yearly GDP and guarantee the stableness of the economy as a whole, without transport another sectors of the economy could not exist. Polish carriers are besides at the forefront of European carriers, and in 2020 they carried a 4th of all goods between Germany and France, a crucial increase over the years, and in 2008 they carried 8 percent of goods.
SEE ALSO: Sovereignty to abroad capital - without it there will be no large Poland
For years destroyed by draconian laws, specified as the Mobility Package, Poland's Deal or the increased excise work on fuel, Polish carriers on Wednesday began a strike. respective 100 trucks blocked expressways S2, S8 and national 50 leading to Warsaw. Protesters request that the government take its stand within 14 days, otherwise the strikes will rise.
If there is no answer, we will not halt on a informing strike. Today, many truck hauliers are under the fence, due to the fact that the burden is only 50%. Since they are standing at our fence, they may as well stand at the de Gaulle roundabout in Warsaw – says Mekler, the carrier and leader of the Confederation Club in Lublin.
That's what it looks like. #The Carrier StrikerReported from S8 at Mark's height. We greet the drivers and entrepreneurs who organized themselves, and they greet us,
Thank you for your support!
Great organizational success of absolutely bottom-up leaders!#We'll return WamPolandpic.twitter.com/qoSSW2gX29
— Krzysztof Bosak (@krzysztofbosak) March 22, 2023
Belarusian and Russian companies bypass sanctions
The main reason for the strike was the sealing of sanctions against Belarus by Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki during the Brussels summit on 23 March. Restrictions hit Poland mainly due to the fact that they prevent Polish carriers from carrying their goods east and utilizing Euro-Asian routes. pcompanies with Russian and Belarusian capital operating in Poland can operate semitrailers registered in their territory. Thus they transport goods to the Union, legally circumventing sanctions. In turn, the Belarusian government prevents the establishment of Polish plants in its country.
Misstructured regulations make Belarusian and Russian entities unrivalled on our market. NEU regulations besides concern them, so that they are able to supply transport across the full section of Western Europe-Belarus, due to the fact that they do not gotta tranship goods at the border.
Relief for Ukrainian carriers
In addition to Belarusian and Russian drivers, another abroad carriers besides hold a privileged position. Last year, the European Union concluded an agreement with Ukraine that Ukrainian drivers can carry out transport to the countries of the community without restriction. Vehicles of carriers from Ukraine are exempted from combustion standards, while Polish drivers must meet the highest Euro VI standard (cars shall not emit more carbon oxides than 1 g/km). Businesses are demanding the introduction of authorisations for Ukrainian carriers related to method requirements for their vehicles (minimum authorisation for Euro III cars).
Harmful EU regulations
The Mobility Package written as an EP regulation and then adopted by the Polish Parliament raises the most objections. It consists of respective provisions governing, among others, worker delegations, access to the road transport market, remainder time and taxation of vehicles.
- The Brussels edict introduces the work to regularly return drivers to the country all 4 weeks, to stay in it for 45 hours and not to sleep in the truck cab. The paper besides establishes a four-day withdrawal period during which the driver cannot work on the territory of the country concerned. Mandatory return of drivers made about 23% of all caro-kilometres driven by vehicles in the EU empty. This is opposed to EU climate policy, additional empty courses contribute to additional CO emissions2. By Page kt-legaltrans Mobility package in 2023 increased CO emissions2 in the EU, an additional 2.9 million tonnes.
- Truck drivers are facing dense penalties for even a tiny transhipment. Up to 5 percent – 500 PLN (this means that exceeding a burden weighing 3.5 tonnes by 35 kg will be fined PLN half a thousand), from 5% to 10% – 1000 PLN, from 10% to 20% – 1500 PLN, for at least 20% – 2000 PLN.
- The Mobility Package requires carriers carrying goods up to 3.5 tonnes to get a circumstantial Community licence authorising entry into European roads. The provision does not entail any benefits for drivers, but imposes additional charges. To get a license, the company must pay:
- Financial safety – €1,800 for the first vehicle and €900 for each.
- obtaining approval to prosecute the profession of carrier – PLN 1000.
- the cost of the licence itself depends on the time for which it was issued. Up to 5 years – PLN 4,000 + PLN 440 for each discharge from the license, over 5 years (10 years maximum) – PLN 8,000 + PLN 880 for each discharge.
- For deficiency of a license, there is simply a punishment of up to PLN 12,000.
Following the entry into force of the Mobility Package, road transport costs are estimated to have increased to 40%. This is not good news for our country, which must bear labour costs at Western country level and face low-paid carriers from the east.
Nationals.net