The details regarding the new hotline have been detailed by Fenadismer, Spain’s most prominent haulage association.
“Transport associations have been denouncing the considerable increase in theft suffered by Spanish trucks in French territory in recent months, especially when vehicles are parked in the parking areas of the main international routes while drivers take mandatory breaks,” says Fenadismer.
Fenadismer adds that besides, cargo, the theft of diesel from trucks is also a problem, with the haulage association claiming that 1,500 litres are stolen “in most cases”. This is said to be particularly true in border regions, as most hauliers heading to France tend to top up just before crossing the border to take advantage of lower fuel costs.
Due to the extent of these problems, Fenadismer, together with other haulage associations and the Spanish Transport Ministry, requested that the French authorities provide Spanish carriers with the means to report freight crimes in a simple and direct manner.
“In response to this demand, the Ministry of the Interior has confirmed that the French Gendarmerie has established a specific protocol for Spanish drivers who are victims of highway robberies, whether of fuel or merchandise,” says Fenadismer.
To use the service, Spanish hauliers can call emergency telephone number 17, which will put them through to the Operations and Intelligence Center of the National Gendarmerie (CORG). By dialing the emergency number, a unit will be deployed on the ground to the site of the crime for emergency action.
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