An EU-wide electronic register of transport operators, linked to national databases, should be a reality by 2010, says EU inland transport director Enrico Pasquarelli. The register will provide national enforcement agencies with the information they require in order to target their operations towards companies and vehicles with a history of breaching regulations. This will mean that if a company loses its operating licence in one member state, it would lose it in every other EU country as well.

Pasquarelli made the announcement at conference 'The Future of Enforcement for Commercial Road Transport in Europe', in Brussels May 30. The conference had been jointly organised by the UK Freight Transport Association (FTA) and the International Road Transport Union (IRU). FTA has been particularly concerned regarding the safety record of foreign lorries operating on UK roads, where recent experience showed unsatisfactory performance regarding roadworthiness, overloading and drivers' hours regulations.

FTA has welcomed the UK government's actions to increase roadside enforcement, which was announced in the Budget in March, and next year's introduction of the Road Safety Act, which will result in roadside fines. Richard Turner, FTA chief executive, said: “The UK government is to be congratulated on the steps it is taking. However, real long-term progress will only be achieved if offences committed on foreign territory are visible and transmitted back home.”

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