Overnighting in the cab is now being concretized
Unlike in many other online media, I do not need a sensational headline here.
One could read headlines such as “EU wants to ban overnighting in cabs,” “Drivers are no longer allowed to sleep,” and so on. I refrain from using such headlines because there are enough people who only read these headlines and then form their opinion based on them. That is always wrong. Because a headline alone does not provide the background knowledge needed to form an opinion.
I want to change that here, even though it will again only reach people who just read the headline.
What is this all about?
Many have learned that many are dedicating themselves to the fight against social dumping. I count myself among them, although my work in this area is limited to raising awareness.
Social dumping? What is that?
I think a short description here is enough with the definition from Wikipedia :
Social dumping is a political catchphrase used to express critically that suppliers from countries where labor and social law standards do not apply as they do in one’s own country offer economic goods more cheaply and therefore constitute illegitimate competition. In return, it is claimed that behind the moral claim and demands for trade sanctions due to social dumping lies a new form of protectionism. Less developed countries would benefit from increased trade with rising prosperity, which would allow an expansion of their social policy. There is also no reason why the same standards should apply in all countries.
However, we see it every weekend at rest stops, highway service areas, etc. Eastern European trucks are lined up there to spend the weekend.
Now some will say: “They chose that for themselves.” That may be true, but I also know from other foreign drivers that young people are lured into this by being allowed to bring their girlfriend along. The main thing is just driving.
The fact that many do not return home even in family emergencies, such as funerals of relatives, etc., has already been reported multiple times in the media.
Various Comments
One should better not read about this topic. Many feel deceived by the new regulation because one is no longer allowed to stay outside, and it would be no problem if one stayed outside for a few weeks.
But quite honestly? What those who must stay outside want compared to others plays no role here. Sorry folks, but this is not about you.
The effects of being away from home for a few weeks versus those who only return after months are hardly noticeable to you. How often could one read in the past years that one or another Eastern European truck driver drove drunk with his truck through the city. Except for one case known to me, there were only property damages involved. In that one case, a 28-year-old cyclist was run over by a 25-year-old Romanian.
That is technically not feasible at all
Is it really so? If I consider that in the mid-1990s (the time when I started driving), we still transported bulk goods from A to B and C across Germany in one night, we did not think it possible that this could not be changed. And what is today? Encountering traffic is the magic word. And why should this not work in international long-haul transport as well?
But hey, surprise. It is already being done. Trailers or swap bodies onto a train and sent to where they are needed in Europe, or at least close by. It is called intermodal or multimodal transport .
As you can see: it is possible.
And there is still a small compromise. You may sleep in the truck for 14 days in a row…
Oh, wait… I just remembered something
In the related online article by DVZ, one can read quite funny things in the comments.
So a certain Peter Körner holds the following opinion… I quote him…
Then the whole thing would also have to be explained to our foreign drivers who are supposed to leave their vehicle and leave the cargo unattended. Total nonsense, but we are used to nothing else.
Now Mr. Körner, even if they are foreign drivers. Just because these or German drivers are near the truck, we are driving personnel who transport goods from A to B. If they need personnel to guard the cargo, there is specially trained personnel for that!
To me as a driver, no cargo is important enough for me to risk my life for the paltry pay! And by the way, if we sleep in the cab, the cargo is also unattended. Even while driving…
