1. Professional Driver Training Seminar
How to help Prepare your Road Transport Operators ”The Role of a National Association”
Istanbul, 29 September 2005
Wojciech Sienicki
President, ZMPD, Poland
Professional Driver Training Seminar Sep 2005
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2005

2. Association of the International Road Transport Carriers in Poland
Created in 1957, ZMPD is the nationwide association of international road carriers in Poland
4026 members with ca 50th vehicles as of
main objectives: representation of the interests of members, assistance, information, training, issue of the TIR carnets and guarantee of transport within the TIR Convention, services for members, national and international cooperation
Professional Driver Training Seminar Sep 2005
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2005

3. Polish international road transport of goods before and after the accession
The number of international road transport companies and of their vehicles
► : ;
► : ;
► : ;
Professional Driver Training Seminar Sep 2005
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2005

4. The structure of the sector:
Polish international road transport of goods before and after the accession (cont.)
The structure of the sector:
► number of companies with 1 vehicle: fall from 35.4% to 24% between and
► companies with 2 – 4 vehicles: increase from % to 44.1%
Professional Driver Training Seminar Sep 2005
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2005

5. ► companies with 5 – 10 vehicles: increase from 17.7% to 23.2%
Polish international road transport before and after the accession (cont.)
► companies with 5 – 10 vehicles: increase from 17.7% to 23.2%
► companies with 21 – 50 vehicles: increase from % to 2.19%
► companies with over 100 vehicles: increase from % to 0.14%.
Professional Driver Training Seminar Sep 2005
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2005

6. Three basic roles of the Association
Participation in creating national legislation, in order to adjust to the EU legislation
Participation in the accession negotiations, in order to achieve optimal accession conditions and to take advantage of the possibility of transition periods (in case of a need)
Preparation of the national road transport operators for new conditions of performing transport activities
Professional Driver Training Seminar Sep 2005
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2005

7. Participation in creating national legislation
Transport related legislation may extensively change
New provisions should be not less favorable than previous rules
It takes time to change unfavorable provisions, once they are taken
Professional Driver Training Seminar Sep 2005
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2005

8. Participation in the accession negotiations
To achieve the optimal transition periods is very important
Comprehensive knowledge of the EU regulations is the basic need
It can really help transport operators in the first period after accession
Professional Driver Training Seminar Sep 2005
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2005

9. Preparation of the national road transport operators
Every transport operator has to meet the criteria of the access to the profession
Adequate information policy for the members is very important
Education and preparing the trainers for it is one of the most important things
Relevant handbooks and brochures should be prepared in advance
Professional Driver Training Seminar Sep 2005
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2005

10. Experts specialized in the EU transport legislation needed
Necessary conditions
Experts specialized in the EU transport legislation needed
Permanent contacts with the authorities and Parliament
Legal framework needed, enabling the association to influence legislation process in the country concerned
Knowledge of the results of negotiations at each stage of the negotiation process, in order to react from the point of view of the road transport operators’ needs and interests’
Professional Driver Training Seminar Sep 2005
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2005

11. Necessary conditions (cont.)
Knowledge of the final results of negotiations and of their impact on the road transport sector in the country concerned
Building the information strategy of the association
Professional Driver Training Seminar Sep 2005
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2005

12. ► growth of the number of transport companies
Some major results of the accession for the road transport sector in Poland
Considerable increase of the road transport services, resulting from the:
► growth of the number of transport companies
►elimination of waiting periods at the borders
► growing competition of the road operators from the „old” and „new” member states
► investment possibilities in transport sector in the „new” member states
Professional Driver Training Seminar Sep 2005
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2005

13. Some major results of the accession (cont.)
Considerable fall of transport prices
Growth of transport costs
Lack of well trained drivers
Bankruptcy of some small transport operators
Transport services between member states performed without transport permits
Professional Driver Training Seminar Sep 2005
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2005

14. The role of a national association in short
This is a long – range process
Membership in the IRU is very important
Participation in works of the EU Liaison Committee, Goods Transport (CLTM) is very important
To make use of other associations’ experience is very important
To make use of other countries’ experience is very important
Professional Driver Training Seminar Sep 2005
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2005

15. The role of a national association in short (cont.)
To make use of the possibility offered in the form of transition periods is very important
To support and control the accession
negotiations at each stage
To support strict implementation of the rules of fair competition (the role of the Road Transport Inspection)
Professional Driver Training Seminar Sep 2005
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2005

16. What to do after Accession ?
Current information for political decision-makers
Initiating of law changes
Support development of the transport in non EU directions
Development of services offered by the association to its members
Professional Driver Training Seminar Sep 2005
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2005

17. Last advice
Coordinate activity of ALL Transport Associations in the country
Professional Driver Training Seminar Sep 2005
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2005

18. Professional Driver Training Seminar
Professional Driver Training Seminar Sep 2005
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2005

19. Professional Driver Training Seminar
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION
Professional Driver Training Seminar Sep 2005
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2005