Transport and Covid-19: responses and resources

Group on Road Transport

The core responsibility of the ITF Group on Road Transport is to manage the Multilateral Quota system. It also deals with the regional aspects of road transport, according to its work programme.

Management of the Multilateral Quota system involves overseeing the distribution of licenses by member countries and monitoring compliance with Quota rules. 

A new edition of the Multilateral Quota User Guide (bilingual English/French) entered into force on 1 January 2022, following the introduction of the new ECMT certificates of Type-Approval and Roadworthiness for the lorries engaged in the ECMT Multilateral quota operations.

The Guide briefly describes the main aims of the Multilateral Quota System and outlines the rules of its operation. It features the model certificates: Certificate of Compliance with Technical Provisions Concerning Exhaust and Noise Emissions and Safety Requirements for EURO IV safe, EURO V safe, EEV safe or EURO VI safe Motor Vehicle (cf. Annex 4), Certificate of Safety for a Trailer (cf. Annex 5) and Certificate of Roadworthiness Test for Motor Vehicles and Trailers (cf. Annex 6).

The new model Certificate of Compliance with Technical Provisions Concerning Exhaust and Noise Emissions and Safety Requirements for EURO IV safe, EURO V safe, EEV safe or EURO VI safe Motor Vehicle, included in the 2014 Guide (Annex 4),  was approved by the Group on Road Transport on 12 October 2012 and is in force since 1 December 2012.

As mandated by Ministers, the Group is also studying options for the future development of the Multilateral Quota System and its restructuring with a view to adopting a new distribution of the Multilateral Quota of licences to Member Countries from 2018 and onwards. The Group is developing a long-term strategic vision, based on the 2005 agreed guidelines, as well as earlier statements, made by Ministers.

In May 2015, Ministers approved the Quality Charter for Road Haulage under the ECMT Multilateral Quota System developed by the RTG. The Quality Charter establishes qualification standards for companies, managers and drivers and entered into force on 1 January 2016. The aim of the initiative is to promote the highest quality transport in all ECMT countries, including on a social level, as a main pillar of the Multilateral Quota system. The work is supported by both the European Commission and the International Road Transport Union (IRU).

In approving the Charter, transport ministers of the European member countries of ITF in their statement committed “to engage their efforts towards having the provisions of the Charter applied to all international transport operations carried under the ECMT Multilateral Quota as of 1 January 2018.”  Monitoring the implementation of the Quality Charter’s provisions by the member countries will therefore be a main focus of the RTG.

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