On this French national holiday, UPTR and the Fédération de l’Imndie Extractive (Fededex) want to raise the subject of cross -border transport with 44 tons again. Since even French transport federations support their position, it is time that the French authorities find a pragmatic solution for this file, according to the two Belgian federations.
As a reminder: on Belgian and French territory, 44 tons may be driven, but the border may not be exceeded (in neither directions) with more than 40 tons. A decree of July 29, 2021 explicitly prohibits this, but since then the European directive has been revised “measurements and weights” at European level. One of the proposals in this revision aims to oblige the Member States to allow trucks from abroad that meet the same technical conditions as those that apply to national transport on their territory. The European Commission and the European Parliament agree on this, but the file is blocked in the European Council … partly because of the resistance of France. Michaël Reul, Secretary-General of the UPTR, regrets “the simplifications, generalizations and other” fake news “around” mega-powered cars “troubled this file for months”.
However, there is movement with the French transport federations. In June De Otre published a text in which it calls the French point of view “incomprehensible, apart from reality, technically unfounded and economically disadvantageous”. “De OTRE vraagt niet om liberalisering van de 44 ton, maar alleen om een strikte regeling van het grensoverschrijdend gebruik ervan, dat wil zeggen toestemming om een grens te overschrijden tussen twee buurlanden die beide de 44 ton op hun grondgebied toestaan. Het gaat geenszins om het toestaan van langeafstandsritten of ritten door meerdere landen met 44 ton, maar om het mogelijk maken van lokaal, coherent en gericht gebruik“, legt algemeen directeur Jean-Marc Rivera out. “Such a measure is no more than common sense. Many European countries are already positive about this development. However, France remains persistent in its resistance. If this measure is strictly limited to cross-border traffic, no study does not indicate a negative effect on the balance between rail and road. On the contrary, this measure makes it possible to bundle the traffic flows and the number of rides, the number of rides. It is a measure that is both rational and favorable for the environment. ” In support of these statements, Michel Calozet, Secretary General of the Fededex, emphasizes that “the current situation entails a potential loss of 4 tons per truck. In the event of a load of 24 tons instead of 28 tons, the cross-border transport of heavy goods means that there must be 15 % more trucks on the road.”
