More fair play in the transport and logistics sector – An end to social dumping on the German and EU roads.
Put an end to social dumping, increase penalties for violations, allow driving at 17, reduce bureaucracy in driving licences – how Germany’s Traffic Light coalition groups want to strengthen the transport and logistics sector.
What must happen now?
The joint motion of the SPD, Green and FDP parliamentary groups now specifically aims at the following eight points:
- combating competition-distorting and unfair working conditions
- through more effective control of the minimum wage law in cross-border and cabotage transports
- by taking better account of social conditions and compliance with collective agreements in public procurement procedures
- by improving the situation at loading ramps, also about drivers’ access to sanitary facilities and restrooms
- by examining how truck cabins can be enlarged – for example, by adding a module for a shower or WC
- intensify controls in the transport and logistics sector
- through more staff at the control authorities, training and bundling of competencies.
- through more effective use of the data from the digital monitoring devices
- by more consistent punishment of social, labour and tax law violations in the transport and logistics sector, for example, by a “substantial increase” in fines.
- improve image and employment situation
- through labour market policy strategies with the Federal Employment Agency
- by promoting measures to make it easier for women to enter logistics professions
- by supporting small and medium-sized enterprises that cooperate in training drivers
- facilitate immigration
- examining how the language catalogue for obtaining a driving licence can be expanded to include other languages such as Albanian or Serbian.
- by completing the professional driver qualification in the languages in which the driving licence is also obtained
- simplified recognition of foreign driving licences
- simplified issuing of visas for drivers from third countries
- make professional driver qualifications less bureaucratic
- by reducing the number of practical hours required to obtain a driving licence
- by simplifying the renewal of driving licences
- through accompanied driving from the age of 17 as part of professional driver training
- by abolishing the residence principle when acquiring a driving licence and qualifying as a professional driver.
- improve the truck parking situation
- by optimising parking space, modernising and certifying parking spaces
- by freeing up car parking spaces for truck parking during night hours
- by installing energy-saving lighting
- by planning a refuelling and charging infrastructure for alternatively powered trucks that do not restrict the existing parking space
- by providing better sanitary facilities
- by developing a holistic concept to improve the cleanliness, safety and service-friendliness of unmanaged rest areas
- by preventing the use of rest areas as a disposition area
- by increasing truck capacity with the aid of telematics
- by expanding subsidy programmes to increase investment in parking space
- by taking parking areas into account in new construction and expansion of commercial areas, then with access to drinking water and sanitary facilities.
- strengthen rail freight transport
- adhering to the 25 per cent target by 2030, expanding and building new nodes and corridors.
- by pushing ahead with electrification and digitalisation measures
- by introducing digital automatic coupling throughout Europe by 2030
- through subsidy programmes, including train path prices
- strengthen the waterways
- by removing bottlenecks, modernising, and adjusting bridge heights
- by renovating and expanding locks
- by using alternative drives and fuels also in inland navigation
- by further networking with road freight transport