A new tool controlling CO2 emissions since January
VECTO (Vehicle Energy Consumption Calculation Tool) is a new tool developed by the European Commission to determine CO2 emissions and fuel consumption from HDV (trucks and buses) over 3.5 tons.
Standards regulating CO2 emissions depending on the weight of the vehicle, its body type, features, engine displacement and frontal area are being established.
The tool for new trucks under certain vehicle categories in accordance with certification legislation will take effect as of January 1, 2019. Data on CO2 emissions and fuel consumption determined with VECTO will be monitored and reported to the Commission as well as will be made public for each of such new trucks.
Without compliance with VECTO regulations, the carriers will not be able to get a certificate allowing to work in the European market.
(Read more on https://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/transport/vehicles/vecto)
New tachographs from June
In accordance with Regulation (EU) 165/2014 (Annex 1C), carriers will be required to install new tachographs in trucks over 3.5 tons. These ‘smart’ tachographs can record and display data on driver’s work and rest periods as well as truck geolocation via the built-in wireless Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) module.
Dedicated Short Range Communication (DSRC) technology makes it possible for the monitoring bodies to control driver’s working time without interrupting the movement of the vehicle. New tachographs will be more secure and process more data about the driver. Companies will need to update the software to start working with new tachographs.
Introduction of Euro 6-d standard from September
The latest environmental Euro 6 Step D regulation will be introduced from September 1, 2019. Following the example of Volvo Trucks, car manufacturers are planning to introduce new truck models meeting Euro 6-d standard. So far, this will not affect carriers working in Europe.
Mobility Package update
Improvements to Mobility Package, especially to the rules on cabotage, are expected after the elections to the European Parliament in May and the appointment of the new expert team.
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Andrey Abragimovich, TELS CARGO Director: “The European Union constantly increases the requirements and control of commercial vehicles travelling on its roads.
As for Mobility Package, Western European carriers are required to introduce standards banning drivers to spend their rest time in the cabin even if it’s designed for rest. Many countries of “old” Europe are subject to these regulations. After the introduction of the restrictions via Mobility Package, transport companies from Eastern Europe will also have to comply with them. The initiatives on mandatory return of the vehicles after the trip to the country of origin have also been undertaken. The majority of EU Transport Ministers have voted for all these requirements. Fortunately, the European Commission has refrained from such radical changes, but it’s a matter of time.
In the meantime, some EU countries have introduced laws regulating minimum payments for secondees (applicable for drivers, too) working on their territory to protect their markets. So far, 14 EU countries have adopted this practice. Huge fines for violation of the laws have been introduced – in France, for example, the amount of penalty is 3000 euros for each employee.
Regulations tightening control of technical conditions of vehicles and allowing roadside vehicle checks for commercial drivers regardless of where they are from were approved in the EU in 2014 and have become mandatory in all EU member states since May 2018. Besides, such checks have become more often.”
Sources: AutoTransInfo, European Commission, Trucks and Roads portal