New regulations will enter into force in Spain, that will reduce barriers preventing transport entrepreneurs from entering the market. Is the Spanish transport industry facing a boom?
The Spanish transport industry has for years called for a change in restrictive regulations until the matter was taken over by the European Commission and the EU Court of Justice. Following the intervention of Brussels and the ruling of the CJEU, the Spanish government is forced to change the rules governing the access to the transport industry. It is primarily about the requirement to have three vehicles to acquire a carrier license. It will be abolished in a new regulation implementing the Road Transport Act (ROTT), which is due to enter into force on January 1, 2019. From next year, it will be necessary to have at least one vehicle to carry out transport operations in Spain.
Twice as many people willing to enter the transport market
Due to the planned liberalization of regulations, interest in the industry has increased significantly. According to Fenadismer, a federation of Spanish transport associations, the number of people currently taking part in the preparation courses for obtaining a carrier licence has doubled in comparison to recent years.
Editor’s note:
Barriers to entering the transport market in Spain have certainly limited the development of the local industry. Although Spanish carriers maintain their position in the EU in the top five in terms of international transport, less-restrictive regulations may be a chance for Spaniards to continue their expansion in Europe. Spain has recorded 18 percent growth in international transport over the last decade. This is a good time for the Spanish people to soften the regulations on access to the industry, especially since the transport capacity is still decreasing, and the prices of services are growing. The question remains whether the lack of drivers will not be a greater barrier for Spanish carriers.