Europe´s new Mobility Package Explained…

Transport companies across Europe have been widely anticipating the outcome and decision on the new regulatory package that will fundamentally change the rules of the transport market.

Initiated by the European Commission in 2017, The Mobility package was designed to improve drivers’ working & safety conditions to ensure that the entire sector operates from a level playing field, promoting fairness of competition, efficiency, and safety.

During the course of the last few days, the European authorities have finally defined the final version of the Mobility Package rules and regulations, and the implementation plan that needs to be followed across the continent.

What is the objective of the Mobility Package?

The key objectives of the Mobility Package is to streamline and simplify the various posting rules that exist across each country in Europe, the package will create a set of minimum standards that need to be met and adhered to, which are designed to improve working conditions and safety for drivers and standardise the administrative requirements for posting workers across Europe.

When, Where, How and Who?…

• Minimum wage laws become mandatory for all European Union countries, meaning that if an EU transport company posts a driver to work in another EU country, they will need to meet the same minimum wage requirements in the destination country.
• New posting rules will be applicable to international road transport operations, however, the following exemptions will apply:
  • Bilateral transport operations (goods and passengers)
  • Transit journeys which do not involve any loading or unloading in a specific country.
• Each driver will be required to return to their country of origin every 4 weeks for each period of 3/4 consecutive working weeks.
• The regular weekly rest period (more than 45 hours) can no longer be taken in the truck, this rest must be taken in suitable accommodation and paid by the employer and not the driver.
• There will be a cooling off period of 4 days for the driver after the return to the home state of the vehicle.
• Tachographs will become mandatory for all LCVs (light commercial vehicles between 2.5 – 3.5t), these vehicles will also be subject to EU norms for transport.
• It will be mandatory to return each truck to the company’s headquarters every eight weeks.
• To help reduce “letterbox companies” being established, transport companies will have to prove their main activity in the establishment Country by:
  • Having an effective and stable establishment in a Member State
  • Having appropriate financial standing
  • Having the required professional competence
• The regulations will start to apply 18 months after their publication date.
• The regulations on rest times, including the return of drivers to their home Country, will apply 20 days after their publication.

Vrio will publish more information in relation to the Mobility Package as the details of this decision become available during the coming weeks and months.

Important: Please remember that existing practices such as Macron Law in France and Minimum Wage in Holland are still effective, and these laws must be complied with until the new Mobility Package has been fully implemented across Europe.

Please contact your local Vrio office to discuss any requirements that you have in relation to minimum wage.