The European association for road transport and mobile cranes (ESTA) has published a five-year manifesto for European abnormal transport to highlight the organisation’s medium-term strategic transport priorities until 2029.
The manifesto is aimed at supporting the delivery of ESTA’s overall mission to improve the safety and efficiency of Europe’s heavy transport sector.
“There is a growing level of political activity in the transport sector as our national leaders become increasingly aware of the importance of the work being carried out by our members,” said ESTA director Ton Klijn.
“Now it is essential that those same political leaders appreciate the need for a coordinated approach that crosses European borders and boundaries if the potentially great gains for industry and our clients are to be captured and not lost. We hope our manifesto will help to drive that debate forward,” Klijn added.
The manifesto’s four key priorities are to bring about harmonised rules for abnormal road transport; to get access to safe and secure parking places; to adopt sector-specific rules and eliminate country-specific barriers; and to establish abnormal transport routes within the trans-European road network.
To support these priorities, ESTA is strongly endorsing the revision of the EU’s Weights and Transport Directive that is currently being discussed by the union. ESTA also points to the fact that it has members that are outside the EU who would also benefit from its proposals.
Earlier in September, ESTA expressed optimism that regulations to harmonise heavy transport will be contained in the EU’s revised Weights and Dimensions Directive.
