The review will go ahead despite the fact that the governing party, the Social Democrats, as well as the Green Party (who have a confidence and supply agreement with the Government), both believe that the existing 36-hour time limit has been carefully considered before.
To support their claim, the parties have referred to Swedish Transport Agency figures showing that 90% of the transport companies that had had their vehicle clamped in 2020 paid up within the 36-hour limit. The two political groups have also pointed out that vehicles that pose a significant danger to road safety can already be clamped until their defects have been remedied.
Reporters from Swedish road transport website Tidningen Proffs, who frequently shadow road transport inspectors, have nonetheless often reported cases whereby foreign hauliers have waited for clamps for be removed rather than pay a fine for violating road transport law. In one case, an offending haulier even transferred a trailer to another HGV in order to complete a delivery.
Reports of this happening have been relatively commonplace in recent times, sparking calls from some politicians and road transport figures for the time limit to be scrapped.
“To ensure healthy competition, we see that similar conditions should apply to foreign players who choose to break the regulations here in Sweden, i.e. that clamping remains until the basis for it has been remedied. Equality before the law is an important principle that should guide the work of creating a healthy transport industry with decent conditions,” opposition party Sweden Democrats said in a statement last month.