Dutch truck drivers expect fines of €1000 for breaching the Belgian road pricing scheme, reports the Financieel Dagblad. The levy will be introduced on 1 April but not all transport companies are fully ready for it yet. This is mainly due to late deliveries of toll boxes and problems with the new system.
Interest group Transport en Logistiek Nederland (TLN) has started a hotline where drivers and hauliers can go with their complaints. TLN also expects problems because the Belgians are not yet fully ready for the new system. Earlier, the organisation compl ained about the system. Zou finds it strange that the charge only applies to trucks and not to passenger cars. The extra cost for Dutch hauliers is estimated at 60 million.
No hearing
Complaints about the toll system, poor toll boxes and the fact that only trucks pay seem to fall on deaf ears, as Belgians do not want to budge.
According to Transport & Logistiek Vlaanderen, the Belgian hauliers' organisation, a lot has already changed in the system and they have heard the complaints. According to them, most of the teething problems would also have already disappeared.
Coulance
In case the toll system does not fully work on 1 April, drivers would have to buy a toll ticket which will cause long queues and many delays. TLN hopes, if the system actually goes live on 1 April, for leniency from the Belgians when it comes down to checking and issuing fines. Should that not be the case, TLN expects to start legal proceedings.
Editorial LogistiekProfs
