Belgium may enforce Aug 5 (05) digital tacho rule
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In a survey carried out by the IRU most EU members states declared
their intention not to enforce the digital tachograph before 1st
January 2006 - in line with the "period of toleration" announced by the
European Commission. The RHA has checked with contacts in France and
Belgium and believes that the IRU information is not entirely correct.
‘We now understand that the French Government will follow the 1st January 2006 date. Belgian officials suggest, ‘that drivers of new vehicles without digital tachographs should carry some form of "attestation" from the vehicle manufacturer stating that it was not possible to fit the device in time for the deadline'. They added that it was unlikely [but not impossible] that any 'foreign vehicles' would be stopped and checked!’ says the RHA’s director of policy, Karen Dee.
ROADWAY has asked truck manufacturers in the UK if they would be prepared to issue such attestations for customers with new vehicles intending to transit Belgium.
Daf Trucks UK marketing director, Tony Pain said: 'We cannot state that it was not possible to fit the device in time for the August 5 deadline because that would be untrue. What we would say is due to the uncertainty surrounding the date when the driver's hours regulations finally enter European law, it has not been custom and practice to fit digital tachographs in our trucks and feel it is unreasonable to victimise operators until a final decision has been taken by the European Parliament.'
Volvo Truck and Bus UK says: 'Colleagues in Belgium have confirmed that trucks registered in Belgium that cannot be fitted with digital tachographs from 5 August 2005 will be supplied with a statement from the manufacturer that it was not possible to fit a digital tachograph. Their understanding is, that this only applied to trucks registered in Belgium and there are no plans to issue such a statement for UK customers.
'Having varying dates around Europe is an absolute mess - we totally agree with IRU's request for a common implementation date and one that allows businesses to plan', a spokesman said.
A spokesman for DaimlerChrysler said: 'We have been able to fit digital tachographs on line since August 1. We feel this is a matter for government departments to comment on and not ourselves.'
Comment from Iveco, MAN, and Scania is awaited.
The UK Government stated earlier this year that whilst there was no agreement at the EU level, it would not enforce mandatory fitment on 5th August 2005 as had originally been planned although operators who wish to install and use digital tachographs would be permitted to do so. In addition, the European Commission announced that it would allow a "period of toleration" for Member States on this issue until 1st January 2006. (A final decision at the EU level is expected by the end of this year).
Operators with vehicles fitted with analogue tachographs registered after August 5 intending to go abroad (particularly to Belgium) are advised to contact DfT for guidance. RHA members should contact the International Department on: 01932 841515.
‘We now understand that the French Government will follow the 1st January 2006 date. Belgian officials suggest, ‘that drivers of new vehicles without digital tachographs should carry some form of "attestation" from the vehicle manufacturer stating that it was not possible to fit the device in time for the deadline'. They added that it was unlikely [but not impossible] that any 'foreign vehicles' would be stopped and checked!’ says the RHA’s director of policy, Karen Dee.
ROADWAY has asked truck manufacturers in the UK if they would be prepared to issue such attestations for customers with new vehicles intending to transit Belgium.
Daf Trucks UK marketing director, Tony Pain said: 'We cannot state that it was not possible to fit the device in time for the August 5 deadline because that would be untrue. What we would say is due to the uncertainty surrounding the date when the driver's hours regulations finally enter European law, it has not been custom and practice to fit digital tachographs in our trucks and feel it is unreasonable to victimise operators until a final decision has been taken by the European Parliament.'
Volvo Truck and Bus UK says: 'Colleagues in Belgium have confirmed that trucks registered in Belgium that cannot be fitted with digital tachographs from 5 August 2005 will be supplied with a statement from the manufacturer that it was not possible to fit a digital tachograph. Their understanding is, that this only applied to trucks registered in Belgium and there are no plans to issue such a statement for UK customers.
'Having varying dates around Europe is an absolute mess - we totally agree with IRU's request for a common implementation date and one that allows businesses to plan', a spokesman said.
A spokesman for DaimlerChrysler said: 'We have been able to fit digital tachographs on line since August 1. We feel this is a matter for government departments to comment on and not ourselves.'
Comment from Iveco, MAN, and Scania is awaited.
The UK Government stated earlier this year that whilst there was no agreement at the EU level, it would not enforce mandatory fitment on 5th August 2005 as had originally been planned although operators who wish to install and use digital tachographs would be permitted to do so. In addition, the European Commission announced that it would allow a "period of toleration" for Member States on this issue until 1st January 2006. (A final decision at the EU level is expected by the end of this year).
Operators with vehicles fitted with analogue tachographs registered after August 5 intending to go abroad (particularly to Belgium) are advised to contact DfT for guidance. RHA members should contact the International Department on: 01932 841515.
