Portugal is banning drivers from taking part in loading and unloading operations. A Spanish transport association has called for a similar change.
The legislation, which will come into force in September, will affect both Portuguese drivers and those working internationally. After the changes, such operations will have to be carried out by the consignor or the consignee employing trained staff for this purpose, according to the Spanish portal Diario di Transporte.
Exceptions will be made for stowage and securing operations where the driver should offer advice and intervene.
Loading and unloading of cargo directly by the driver will still be possible, but only in a few situations. These include removals and door-to-door transport and the carriage of fuel. This will also be possible in the case of dangerous goods, provided that the driver is trained for this purpose and is provided with the appropriate equipment.
Failure to comply will be punished with a fine of €15,000, the carriers’ organisation Fenadismer reports.
Spain wants to ban forcing drivers to unload and load
The changes introduced in Portugal have pleased Spanish transport associations, which have been pushing for a similar ban for drivers in their country for years. One of the associations there, Astic, wants to call on Raquel Sánchez, in her capacity as Minister of Transport, Mobility and Urbanisation, to introduce similar legislation.
According to data cited by Diario di Transporte, 70% of truck drivers are involved in the loading and unloading of goods transported in Spain. These activities, the portal notes, are not related to their profession and the lack of a ban leads to abuse and fatigue for truckers. This in turn can result in accidents on the road and during the actual unloading and loading.
The portal notes that this affects both the drivers, who take sick leave, and the companies that employ them, which “see their costs rise.”
Ramón Valdivia, CEO of Astic, notes that Spain, which has a shortage of 15,000 professional drivers, must try to make the trucking profession more attractive to potential job candidates, the portal quotes an Astic representative as saying. It also points out that banning loading and unloading by drivers could attract more young people into the workforce.
Drivers’ Charter as a solution to industry woes?
The IRU, the Global Shippers Alliance (GSA) and the International Transport Workers’ Federation are of the same opinion and have proposed the creation of a so-called Drivers’ Charter. The initiative, which we wrote about in May, is intended to improve the standard of work for truckers. The Charter requires a commitment from each party involved in the supply chain. Shippers, carriers and drivers themselves are included. One of the demands is to “ensure fast and safe unloading and loading (e.g. by providing documentation on time, keeping loading operations to a minimum and giving clear instructions on how to move around the facility).”
Portugal prohibits the participation of drivers in the loading and unloading of vehicles. One of the Spanish transport associations has called for a similar change.
The regulations, which will come into force in September, will apply to both Portuguese drivers and those working in international traffic. After the changes, operations of this type will have to be performed by the sender or recipient, employing trained employees for this, we read on the Spanish portal Diario di Transporte.
An exception will be the stowage and lashing operations where the driver should advise and intervene.
Loading and unloading of cargo directly by the driver will still be possible, but only in a few situations. It goes, among others door-to-door removals and transport and fuel transportation. It will also be possible in the case of dangerous goods, provided that the driver is trained and equipped with the appropriate equipment in this regard.
Failure to comply with the provisions will be punishable by a fine of PLN 15,000. euro – informs the transport organization Fenadismer.
The Spaniards want to ban forcing a driver to unload and load
The changes introduced in Portugal appealed to Spanish transport associations, which have been trying to introduce a similar ban on drivers in their country for years. One of its associations, Astic, wants to ask for similar provisions to be introduced to Raquel Sánchez, who is minister for transport, mobility and urbanization.
According to data cited by Diario di Transporte, 70 percent of goods transported in Spain are involved in loading and unloading. truck drivers. These activities – as the portal notes – are not related to their profession, and the lack of a ban leads to abuse and fatigue of truckers. This, in turn, may result in accidents on the road and during unloading and loading.
The portal notes that this affects both drivers taking sick leave and the companies that employ them, which are „seeing costs increase,” the report reads.
Ramón Valdivia, CEO of Astic, notes that Spain, which is missing 15,000 jobs professional drivers must try to make the trucker profession more attractive to potential job candidates – the portal quotes the representative of Astic. It also points out that the ban on loading and unloading by drivers could attract more young people to work.
The Driver’s Card is a solution to industry problems?
The IRU, Global Shippers Alliance (GSA) and the International Transport Workers' Federation are of a similar opinion, which organizations proposed the creation of the so-called Driver cards . The initiative we wrote about in May is to improve the standard of work among truckers. The charter requires a commitment from each of the parties involved in the supply chain. It includes shippers, carriers and drivers themselves. One of the postulates is „to ensure fast and safe unloading and loading (including by providing documentation on time, shortening to the necessary minimum operations carried out when loading goods and providing clear instructions on how to move around the facility).
Photo credit: Bartosz Wawryszuk