CPA Bulletin

www.cpa.uk.net CPA Bulletin > May 2024 39 ESTA: 2 Work on ESTA’s new European Crane and Transport Operators Licence (ECTOL) scheme is accelerating as the structure of the new organisation is created and approved. ECTOL will be an umbrella body that will oversee both the existing European Crane Operators Licence (ECOL) and the new European Transport Operators Licence (ETOL) which will initially focus on training for SPMT operators. The three-person ECTOL Supervisory Board will be chaired by Klaus Meissner, ESTA’s Subject Matter Expert Cranes. ESTA decided to develop the ETOL licence scheme using the operational and management structure of the existing European Crane Operators Licence (ECOL) - a move that will be simpler and more efficient than creating a completely new organisation from scratch. Klaus Meissner said: “ECTOL underlines ESTA’s commitment to improving safety and raising the standards of operator training right across Europe to the benefit of the heavy lifting and transport industry as a whole, and our clients.” Meissner Takes ECTOL Chair as Work Gets Underway NewMember from Serbia ESTA has acquired a newmember fromSerbia - themobile crane and construction equipment rental company Tenge doo. Tenge doo is based outside the capital Belgrade and has agreed to join ESTA as a Special Member, the category that applies when there is no national association in ESTAmembership. The company also provides transportation and heavy load handling services and works both within Serbia and internationally. ESTA Director Ton Klijn said: “We are delighted to welcome Tenge doo into the ESTA family and we look forward to learning about the issues they face in their markets - and how ESTA can support their work.” ESTA Annual Report Now Available ESTA’s 2023 Annual Report is available in a new electronic format on its website at www.estaeurope.eu . The report brings together in one place all of the work that ESTA has been involved in since the start of last year. Members of the European Parliament have backed moves to harmonise the numerous and complex national rules governing abnormal transport. The vote to revise the EU’s Weights and Dimensions Directive (96/53) is an important step in a long campaign led by ESTA, the European association of abnormal road transport and mobile cranes. While the new regulations will only apply directly to members of the European Union, they are expected to influence regulators in other non-EU nations - such as Turkey, Switzerland and the UK - who will want to ensure that their road transport operators can trade with the EU as efficiently as possible. Now that they have received the full backing of MEPs, they enter a process of consultation between the Council and the Parliament. ESTA Director Ton Klijn said: “Abnormal transport companies are crucial for the prosperity of European economy through their work in the renewable energy, infrastructure, oil and gas, heavy industry and power generation sectors. “This is why ESTA has been active during the revision process of the directive and we strongly welcome the European Parliament’s decision to harmonise national rules and remove administrative and operational bottlenecks.” The revision includes the long-awaited Europe-wide adoption of the standard SERT documentation for abnormal load vehicle registration - a move that ESTA has supported for many years. Other proposals adopted by MEPs include: • a ‘one stop shop’ per country for permits • standardised permit application forms • use of electronic permits • harmonisation of escorting rules and vehicle markings • a ban on language requirements for drivers • permitting systems to be available in all EU languages. The Weights and Dimensions Directive sets maximum authorised dimensions and weights of heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) used in national and international commercial transport. This ensures fair competition as member states cannot restrict the circulation of vehicles. European Parliament Backs Harmonisation of Rules on Abnormal Transport