Euro Transfer Point

Sweden has an excellent transportation infrastructure for freight forwarding, because the government has always recognized its vital importance to economic prosperity and a priority of its modernization and development.

The railways in Sweden have 13,000 km of track, about a third are privately owned. The rail network includes a rapid rail link between Arlanda airport and the center of Stockholm, which makes transporting goods quickly and efficiently.

There are a number of major ports and harbors, including the state of the art terminals and provide facilities for handling containers. These include Gaevle, Göteborg, Malmö, Sundsvall, Helsingborg, Halmstad, Kalmar and Stockholm. The Swedish merchant fleet, with 165 modern vessels, is also seen as an economic priority of the government and the industry of international freight transport Sweden as a whole enjoys the support of the Government of the shipping companies and infrastructure .

The domestic air market in Sweden was deregulated in 1991 and since then a number of Swedish airlines were competing to serve the international freight market in the transport of goods. These companies include Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS), Transwede and Malmö Aviation.

The announcement that the phase three of London’s Low Emission Zone (LEZ) will be suspended two days before the controversial program to reduce emissions of the first anniversary has been warmly welcomed by the industry body of the Freight Transport Association (FTA) . The third phase of the scheme - which involved a small commercial vehicles under the LEZ regulations - will now face public consultation and should be abandoned because of concerns about its cost to industry and small businesses.

Gordon Telling, FTA’s Head of Policy for London, said:

“City Hall has listened to industry and the free trade agreement and considered this unpopular and ill-conceived scheme, which amounted to little more than window dressing. The LEZ is very little especially because many of emissions compliant vehicles are already operating in and around London. Unfortunately, the cost to businesses - and Londoners - is far from being little. ”

The LEZ was launched on February 4 last year to reduce emissions in the capital, but he left the local people and businesses with a large bill to pay and very little improvement in the quality of air.

Telling continued:

“LEZ benefits have been overestimated, the difference in price that goes with it. Taxpayers’ money was wasted in advertising, signage and cameras to catch a few more, the most polluting lorries. The cost of this finding was approximately 50 million pounds in total costs and another £ 10 million in annual operating costs. At least now, the damage was limited and we can begin to consider a more intelligent emission reductions in the capital without being more companies into bankruptcy. ”

Bringing vehicles meet the standards required of business has already cost about 40 million pounds sterling. It is feared that if the green light was given to extend the scheme to include vans, thousands of small businesses, including builders, electricians, plumbers, florists and vegetables, which have face punishment costs. Many were driven out of business simply because they could not afford the cost of modification, which can reach £ 5000, or replace their vehicles.

The FTA argued that recognition of the freight operator Scheme (FORS) - a unique, industry-led membership scheme which aims to transform the delivery of cargo to London - it will be a more effective way to reduce London LEZ emissions than the priority of best practices, including procedures to reduce the impact of transport on the environment. However, the potential LEZ actually diverted funds from the purchase of cleaner vehicles that have been produced by commercial vehicle operators to encourage adoption of electric, hybrid and cleaner, the highest standard Euro (Euro 5) vehicles.

Freight Transport Association (FTA) today questioned the Liberal Democrats “of messages on investment in infrastructure. A few days after party leader Nick Clegg has announced its plans to reduce maintenance and road construction Budget £ 980 million, cash and housing teams have launched their bid for the construction industry kickstart.

On the one hand, we have Nick Clegg to take a sledgehammer to road construction and maintenance budget and the other, we have Vince Cable and Sarah Teather announcing their bid to stimulate the construction industry. Without decent, well-maintained roads, how can they expect to work in construction sites to obtain a safe and effective? And would not the construction industry achieve greater kickstart if they were allowed to continue construction of the planned route and maintenance?

The logistics industry is highly diversified, taking elements of the construction and utilities sector and the retail sector more familiar. However, all these elements are dependent on a reliable road network for safety and fuel travel. FTA is concerned that the compartmentalized attitude displayed by the LibDem - and others - could damage the ability plc of the United Kingdom to make a successful return to the recession.

We are all dependent on the logistics, the supply of electricity and water to buy our groceries, but too often it is taken for granted. FTA is ready and willing to work with politicians to find positive solutions to the challenges ahead, but reflexes for infrastructure projects such as road construction and maintenance of no help.

Freight Transport Association has played a role in influencing the EU to allow the use of digital tachographs adapters. Before this amendment, the sub-vehicles of 3.5 tonnes of material impossibility digital tachograph house suddenly became illegal to drive if he violates the weight limit by drivers under the rules and duration of requiring a tachograph.
Now that the digital tachograph adapters have received the green light, operators of vehicles that require a tachograph in tow a trailer, for example, can have an adapter fitted to avoid any problems.
Before this decision, the European Commission would not allow a speed signal to be taken from any domain other than the gearbox. In smaller vehicles, it has been fitted with a tachograph difficult and in some cases, which makes their operation illegal.
We noticed this very early and grew with the European Commission, highlighting the concerns of operators of smaller vehicles at the end of the market. The decision will be easier and more respect as possible for a group often overlooked.
Before the decision, the FTA has asked for guarantees of the vehicle and operator Services Agency (Vosa) that vehicles entering the field of drivers hours - but technically not able to incorporate a digital tachograph - ne not be penalized if caught. Since some solutions are available for light vehicles, as approved by Vosa mechanical adjustments, they agreed to apply the law in individual cases, but should not engage in a policy of discretion. Although we are pleased with the decision, the devil is in the details and the adapter is only to be eligible for vehicles put into service until 2013. After that point it is difficult to know what the manufacturers to ensure that the digital tachograph can be mounted on smaller vehicles. We are looking for advice from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.